France’s Macron announces aid conference for Lebanon

The French President said an international fundraising conference for Lebanon will be held in the next few days after the deadly explosion that devastated Beirut

A Lebanese youth hugs French President Emmanuel Macron during a visit to the Gemmayzeh neighbourhood, which has suffered extensive damage due to a massive explosion in the Lebanese capital. AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron (C) visiting the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut, Lebanon. Macron arrived to Lebanon to show support after a massive explosion on 04 August

French President Emmanuel Macron listens to a resident as he visits a devastated street of Beirut. AP Photo

French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he visits the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. EPA

French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he visits a devastated street of Beirut. AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron surrounded by Lebanese servicemen, visits the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron, speaks with a woman as he visits the Gemayzeh neighborhood, which suffered extensive damage from an explosion on Tuesday. AP Photo

French President Emmanuel Macron visits the Gemayzeh neighborhood, which suffered extensive damage from an explosion on Tuesday that hit the seaport of Beirut. AP Photo

French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he arrives at the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. REUTERS

French President Emmanuel Macron visits the devastated site of the explosion at the port of Beirut. REUTERS

French President Emmanuel Macron greets people during a visit to the Gemmayzeh neighbourhood, which has suffered extensive damage due to a massive explosion in the Lebanese capital. AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron wears a protective face mask as he meets Lebanon's President Michel Aoun following Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area, at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon. Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron greets people during a visit to the Gemmayzeh neighbourhood, which has suffered extensive damage due to a massive explosion in the Lebanese capital, on August 6, 2020. French President Emmanuel Macron visited shell-shocked Beirut, pledging support and urging change after a massive explosion devastated the Lebanese capital in a disaster that has sparked grief and fury. / AFP / ANWAR AMRO

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to the crowd during a visit to the Gemmayzeh neighbourhood, which has suffered extensive damage due to a massive explosion in the Lebanese capital, on August 6, 2020. French President Emmanuel Macron visited shell-shocked Beirut, pledging support and urging change after a massive explosion devastated the Lebanese capital in a disaster that has sparked grief and fury. / AFP / ANWAR AMRO

French President Emmanuel Macron, center, gestures as he visits the Gemayzeh neighborhood, which suffered extensive damage from an explosion on Tuesday that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he visits a devastated street of Beirut, Lebanon, on August 6, 2020 a day after a massive explosion devastated the Lebanese capital in a disaster that has sparked grief and fury. French President Emmanuel Macron visited shell-shocked Beirut Thursday, pledging support and urging change after a massive explosion devastated the Lebanese capital in a disaster that has sparked grief and fury. / AFP / POOL / Thibault Camus

A video grab shows French President Emmmanuel Macron, left, speaking with a member of a French rescue team which arrived overnight to support relief efforts at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron visits the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut. Tele Liban / Reuters

Lebanon's President Michel Aoun meets French President Emmanuel Macron on his arrival at the airport in Beirut. Dalati Nohra/Reuters

Lebanon's President Michel Aoun welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron on his arrival at the airport in Beirut. Dalati Nohra/Reuters

"Lebanon is not alone," Mr Macron tweeted shortly after landing. Dalati Nohra/Reuters

The French president is the first foreign leader to visit the Lebanese capital since an explosion on Tuesday killed at least 137 people. Dalati Nohra / Reuters

Mr Macron said Lebanon was facing a political and economic crisis, and that it would continue to suffer unless it enacted reforms. Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron announced an international fundraising conference for Lebanon during his visit to Beirut on Thursday in the wake of the enormous blast that devastated the city earlier this week.

Mr Macron said that France will organise a conference with donors in Europe, America, the Middle East and elsewhere to raise money for food, medicine, housing and other urgent aid.

But he warned Lebanon’s political leadership that he wouldn’t give “blank checks to a system that no longer has the trust of its people.” He called on them to create a “new political order.”

He promised a “clear and transparent governance” so that the aid goes directly to the population and aid groups.

In startling scenes, Mr Macron — whose country once was Lebanon’s colonial ruler — presented himself as a champion for the Lebanese to push change on their leadership.

For many Lebanese, Tuesday’s giant blast was the last straw after years of corruption and mismanagement by a political elite that has ruled for decades.

At least 137 people were killed and over 5,000 injured by the blast, which decimated half the city, leaving about 300,000 thousand homeless.

Arriving in Beirut on Thursday afternoon, Mr Macron was met by Lebanese President Michel Aoun. He then visited the port where the explosion took place and walked through one of the worst-hit neighbourhoods, Gemmayzeh, down a street lined with wrecked buildings.

None of Lebanon’s top politicians have toured residential areas damaged by the blast, though President Michel Aoun and others did visit the port.

"I am here also to propose a new political initiative because there is anger against the political system," Mr Macron told the crowd, which gathered on the narrow street and could be heard shouting for regime change in footage broadcast on television stations.

"It’s what I’ll express this afternoon [to Lebanese politicians]. We must today proceed with reforms to change the system to stop the division of Lebanon to fight against corruption, to have transparency and truth, this explosion is the consequence of negligence," he added.