World Bank announces ’emergency response’ for Lebanon
The World Bank says that it is activating an “emergency response” to move resources to support the “urgent needs” of residents in Lebanon resulting from Israeli attacks. In a report, the World Bank said physical damages and economic loses due to the conflict total an estimated $8.5bn.
“There are over 875,000 internally displaced persons in Lebanon, with women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and refugees at highest risk,” the report said. “An estimated 166,000 individuals have lost their jobs, corresponding to a loss of US$168 million in earnings.”
The Bank added that Lebanon’s housing sector has been hit the hardest, with $3.2bn in damages resulting from nearly 100,000 housing units being partially or fully damaged.
“Disruptions to commerce are amounting to close to US$2 billion, driven in part by the displacement of employees and business owners,” the report said, adding that distruction of crops, livestock and displaced famers has put agricultural damages at about $1.2bn.
“To respond to the current crisis facing the country, the World Bank is activating emergency response plans to re-direct existing resources to support the urgent needs of people in Lebanon.”
Lebanon army redeployment in south crucial to war solution: UN peacekeeping chief
The United Nations intends to bolster its peacekeeping mission in Lebanon to better support the Lebanese army once a truce is agreed, but would not directly enforce a ceasefire, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix has said.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is deployed in southern Lebanon to monitor the demarcation line with Israel, an area that has seen more than a year of hostilities between Israeli troops and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters.
Diplomatic efforts to end the fighting have centred on UN Resolution 1701, which ended the last round of conflict between the two heavily-armed foes in 2006 and requires Hezbollah to remove fighters and weapons from areas between the border and the Litani River, which runs about 30km (around 20 miles) from Lebanon’s southern border.
“I think that has to be very clear. Implementing the 1701 is the responsibility of the parties,” said Lacroix, speaking to reporters on a three-day visit to Lebanon. “UNIFIL has a supportive role, and there is a lot of substance in that supporting role.”
Lacroix added that redeploying Lebanese troops there is crucial for any solution to more than a year of Israel-Hezbollah clashes.
“The redeployment of the Lebanese armed forces is an absolutely central element to any durable settlement,” he said.
ICRC delivers humanitarian aid including medical supplies to Lebanese capital
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says 51 tonnes of humanitarian aid has arrived in Beirut from the organisation’s regional hub in Jordan. It includes 36 tonnes of household items such as blankets, hygiene kits and solar lamps, along with 15 tonnes of surgical material and medical supplies.
📍Lebanon | 51 tons of essential humanitarian aid have arrived in Beirut from our regional logistics hub in Jordan.
The aid includes relief and medical supplies to support affected families and hospitals facing severe shortages of supplies. pic.twitter.com/V7RG1sZBBM
— ICRC (@ICRC) November 14, 2024
