$300M Beirut aid pledge requires reform
BEIRUT — World leaders and international organizations pledged nearly $300 million in emergency humanitarian aid to this devastated city Sunday but warned that no money for rebuilding the capital will be made available until Lebanese authorities commit themselves to political and economic reforms demanded by the people.
Over 30 participants in an international conference offered help for a “credible and independent” investigation into Tuesday’s explosion, another key demand of the Lebanese crowds who took to the streets Saturday and Sunday.
The donors pledged that the aid will be coordinated by the U.N. and delivered directly to the Lebanese people — in a clear indication that no money is going to the government and its coffers.
French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country once governed Lebanon as a protectorate, said, “We have to do everything we can so that violence and chaos do not win the day.”
“The explosion of Aug. 4 was like a thunderbolt. It’s time to wake up and take action. The Lebanese authorities now have to put in place … political and economic reforms.”
Other conference participants were President Donald Trump, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and other top officials from China, the European Union and Persian Gulf countries.
Meanwhile, two Lebanese Cabinet ministers, including a top aide to the premier, resigned amid signals that the embattled government may be unraveling in the aftermath of the devastating blast, which killed at least 160 and wounded 6,000, raising public anger to new levels.
The resignation of Information Minister Manal Abdel-Samad, in which she cited failure to meet the people’s aspirations and last week’s blast, was followed by a swirl of reports that other ministers also were resigning.
Late Sunday, Environment Minister Demanios Kattar resigned, calling the ruling system “flaccid and sterile.”
He stepped down despite closed-door meetings into the evening and a flurry of phone calls between Prime Minister Hassan Diab and several ministers after Abdel-Samad’s announcement. The political haggling had appeared to put off more resignations, and a Cabinet meeting is planned for Monday.
If seven of the 20 ministers resign, the Cabinet effectively would have to step down and remain in place as a caretaker government.
Maha Yahya, the director of the Beirut-based Carnegie Middle East Center, said the discussions point to backroom deals that seek to put together a new government that’s acceptable to domestic and international powers, as well as the public.
Hundreds of protesters clashed with security forces, attempting to breach the heavily guarded parliament. Security forces responded with tear gas and chased the protesters in the streets downtown in a smaller repeat of scenes from the night before.