International conference on Lebanon raises $370 million

SAULIEU, France — An international conference on Lebanon on Wednesday raised some $370 million in aid to meet the country’s humanitarian needs, one year after the massive explosion at Beirut’s port, the French presidency said. The pledges, to be delivered over the next 12 months, go beyond the $357 million sought in the third global effort to show support for the Lebanese people, President Emmanuel Macron said at the virtual conference co-hosted by France and the United Nations. The conference drew 33 states, some represented by heads of state or government, diplomats and 13 international organizations, plus five representatives of Lebanese civil society, according to a final statement from Macron’s office. In a statement laying out the conference’s conclusions, participants said that Lebanon’s “development model needs to be overhauled to ensure the country gets back into a sustainable and people-centered development process.” “Humanitarian assistance cannot be a long-term solution,” the conference concluded, noting that “structural economic and financial assistance will require profound changes expected from Lebanon’s leaders.” The conference said a new government under Lebanon’s new Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati must start by “swiftly launching, conducting and concluding negotiations in good faith with the International Monetary Fund,” as well as preparing ”transparent and impartial” elections for 2022, and repairing the damaged port.