Paris conference for Lebanon raises more than $1bn in support

Death toll of conflict has already passed that of Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006 as diplomats search for way to post LAF in southern Lebanon

Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati and France's President Emmanuel Macron shake hands at the Paris conference. AFP

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Dozens of countries meeting in Paris for a conference on the situation in Lebanon have pledged more than $1 billion in humanitarian aid and support for the Lebanese army, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Thursday.

"We have collectively raised $800 million in humanitarian aid and $200 million for the security forces," Mr Barrot said at the end of the conference, which was also attended by international organisations including the UN.

Key issues discussed included an urgent call for an immediate ceasefire and the posting of the Lebanese Armed Forces in the south of the country, in line with UN Resolution 1701, which ended the last round of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah nearly two decades ago.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed gratitude for the show of international solidarity: "We have seen a strong solidarity with Lebanon and [calls for] a ceasefire as soon as possible. Today, I can feel that Lebanon is not alone."

The event highlighted the worsening humanitarian and security crisis in Lebanon, exacerbated by sectarian tensions as Israel attacks largely Hezbollah-aligned Shiite communities.

Israel responded last month to Hezbollah's increased cross-border attacks in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza with a bombing campaign that has wiped out much of the group's leadership.

The war has displaced more than a million people and deepened Lebanon's economic crisis. At more than 2,500, the number of those killed has already passed the death toll of the last Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006.

Today, I feel that Lebanon is not alone

Najib Mikati,
Caretaker Prime Minister of Lebanon

"No external power can impose the hegemony of a community in Lebanon," said Mr Barrot, in an apparent reference to Iran. "The Shiite community, which is most affected by the ongoing war, has all its place in Lebanon and must continue to live in security under the protection of the state."

"This war threatens the very cohesion of this country, which has already been deeply weakened in recent years by an unprecedented succession of political and economic crises," added Mr Barrot. "Its 15 years of growth in Lebanon have been wiped out."

Commitment to UN resolution 1701

Noura Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of State, was among those who called for a ceasefire.

Speaking to The National at the conference, Ms Al Kaabi said it was important Lebanese politicians agreed on appointing a new president after a two-year vacancy that has further enervated institutions weakened by a financial crisis. She told delegates random bombings were raising the threat of war spreading further across the region.

"The UAE is very committed to making sure there is a de-escalation and a commitment to UN Resolution 1701," she said.

Resolution 1701 required the full withdrawal of Hezbollah from southern Lebanon and for Israel to stop entering Lebanese airspace. Neither was executed, with Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace and Hezbollah maintaining its paramilitary presence in the region.

The international community should support the country's army, Ms Al Kaabi added. "There has to be a political resolution that all parties should adhere to."

The UAE pledged $130 million at the beginning of the crisis and has recently shipped the equivalent of more than 50 planeloads of aid that will arrive in Lebanon on Friday.

It is also working on sending 40 tonnes of additional food supplies to Lebanese refugees in Syria and to the Syrians returning to their country, said Sultan Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Development and International Organisations.

More aid for Lebanon announced on Thursday included a French pledge of €100 million ($108 million). Germany has announced €96 million in aid, the UK £15 million ($19.5 million), while Ireland on Wednesday said it would give €5 million. The UN had previously estimated the urgent humanitarian needs in Lebanon to be $426 million.

A follow-up conference aimed at strengthening the Lebanese army is expected to take place in Rome. While the army says it has indicated its readiness to take on a more prominent role in southern Lebanon, it insists that more international support is crucial. The Lebanese cabinet has already approved hiring an extra 1,500 soldiers but there are plans for the recruitment of 6,000 more.

However, hopes for ceasefires in Lebanon and Gaza remain dim. With neither Iranian nor Israeli representatives in attendance, the Paris conference was not expected to achieve a diplomatic breakthrough.

Speaking to reporters on the sideline of the event, Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister, Micheal Martin, warned of the escalating dangers in the region.

"There was no evidence yet" for a ceasefire, Mr Martin said. "But people are very worried in terms of further escalation in the region and what that can do to the world at large."

Mr Mikati said the effects of the war cannot be overstated. "My heart is heavy and this is because we have to increasingly be mobilised and active to support our country." He said the war was leaving a "trail of destruction and misery", inflicting severe damage to the country’s infrastructure, and economy and social fabric.

France's President Emmanuel Macron opens the international conference in support of Lebanon, held in Paris on Thursday. EPA

Mr Mikati was accompanied by Hezbollah's representative in his cabinet, Minister of Public Works Ali Hamiyeh, as well as Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib, Industry Minister George Bouchikian, Environment Minister Nasser Yassin and Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan.

Mr Hamiyeh told The National that discussions were continuing on the "modalities" of the application of Resolution 1701. The Lebanese cabinet and Hezbollah say they have accepted it in principle. Israel has reportedly asked for changes to the resolution, which would give its military more leeway to continue operating in Lebanon.

Questions were raised during the conference about US level of attendance in the absence of Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was replaced by Richard Verma, Deputy Secretary of Management and Resources.

Mr Barrot denied rumours of tension between Washington and Paris, saying the US had pledged about $300 million alone in humanitarian aid for Lebanon. "I want to salute the exceptional US contribution to this conference," he said.

Meanwhile, NGOs hailed announcements of more humanitarian aid but criticised the lack of political will, including in France, to pressurise Israel into ending its wars in Lebanon and Gaza.

"This masks a deliberate choice to continue to support a partner that is starving two million people in Gaza and is finishing off Lebanon after years of crisis," said Jean-Francois Corty, president of Medecins du Monde. "This shows this conference is more about communication. Politicians shouldn't be trying to do humanitarian work, they should do politics."