President of Lebanon implores UNGA for immediate assistance

Michel Aoun pleads for help as Lebanon's economy collapses

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Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun on Friday pleaded with world leaders to help his country “claw its way back to recovery” as its economy collapses and political corruption runs rampant.

In his address to the UN assembly in New York, Mr Aoun called for help funding job-creation programmes, rebuilding Beirut’s wrecked port and recovering stolen public funds in a wish list of requests for the international community.

Lebanon is facing an economic meltdown, political uncertainty, soaring levels of poverty and a 90 per cent drop in currency values as it recovers from the chemical explosion that destroyed Beirut port in August of 2020.

“As Lebanon tries to claw its way back to recovery, we count on the whole world to support us in achieving our goals,” Mr Aoun told the annual UN gathering of world leaders.

“We are relying on the international community to fund vital projects, whether in the public or private sector, in order to revive the economic cycle and create new job opportunities.”

Mr Aoun acknowledged that many of Lebanon’s problems were home-grown.

Decades-old economic policies have led to “corruption and waste resulting from bad management and an absence of accountability,” he said.

Rweida Mohammed stands next to her almost empty fridge that is warm inside due to prolonged power cuts. Elizabeth Fitt for The National

Hamid Khodor sits despondently in the kitchen. There is no electricity to keep food fresh in the fridge and freezer, no cooking gas for the stove and not much to eat except what the family can grow in the garden. Elizabeth Fitt for The National

The Khodor family is relying on homegrown vegetables. Elizabeth Fitt for The National

Talal Khodor with his son, Omar, in their vegetable garden. The family is relying on homegrown vegetables to feed themselves during Lebanon's economic collapse. Elizabeth Fitt for The National

Rweida Mohammed uses a makeshift grill to cook for the family. Since gas for the kitchen stove became so scarce in Lebanon, the family can't get hold of any. Elizabeth Fitt for The National

Talal Khodor's mother is frustrated by the ongoing situation. Elizabeth Fitt for The National

There are few options left to help Mohammed Hazim provide for his family. Elizabeth Fitt for The National

Shelves that usually display bread have been empty for days in the village store. Elizabeth Fitt for The National

Mohammed Hazim's son, Ziad, waits for his exam results. He had to study using his father's mobile phone. Elizabeth Fitt for The National

People queue for bread as shortages continue. Elizabeth Fitt for The National

The manager at Tarik Al Ridani bakery says it is one of only two producers still operational in the city and with two tonnes of flour left, it will soon run out of bread. Elizabeth Fitt for The National

These boys are among the lucky few that have found bread before stocks run out. Elizabeth Fitt for The National

Ogero, Lebanon's state-run telecoms provider, has a mast in Hrar, but connection speeds are often very slow. Elizabeth Fitt for The National

He said that corrupt officials have “pushed Lebanon into an unprecedented financial and monetary crisis which led to economic stagnation, a stifling livelihood crisis, and growing unemployment, migration and poverty rates”.

Still, the country of about seven million people need help rebuilding after the port blast, investigating those officials who let it happen and repatriating Syrian refugees, he added.