Lebanese MPs defiant in face of vaccine criticism

A number of Lebanese politicians hit back at the World Bank yesterday, a day after the institution said it may suspend financing for Lebanon’s vaccination programme if allegations of cronyism are proven.

The controversy, which involved politicians jumping the vaccine queue, prompted several MPs to publicly apologise but others did not.

Deputy parliament speaker Elie Ferzli MP called Saroj Kumar Jha, the World Bank regional director for the Middle East, a liar and accused him of politicising the incident.

“Upon confirmation of violation, World Bank may suspend financing for vaccines and support for Covid-19 response across Lebanon,” Mr Kumar Jha tweeted on Tuesday.

Zeina Khalil, World Bank representative for Lebanon, told The National the institution was committed to “helping countries provide fair, broad and fast access to vaccines to save lives” but was also prepared to take action in case of corruption.

“The World Bank confirms that if necessary, it is prepared to suspend financing for vaccines and the Covid-19 response across Lebanon, following reports of violations of the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan and the legal agreement underpinning the bank’s support,” she said.

Mr Ferzli denied any wrongdoing, saying his inoculation along with other MPs aged 70 and older took place in Parliament in co-ordination with the Health Ministry and under the observation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, which was given the task of monitoring the process by the World Bank.

IFRC regional spokeswoman Rana Cassou told The National two monitors were sent to Parliament on Tuesday to report back to the World Bank.

The monitors were sent after the IFRC was informed of the chosen vaccination site by the Health Ministry, Ms Cassou said.

“We’re a neutral agency. According to our role and mandate, we only monitor and record our observations. The final call is up to the World Bank,” she said.

Tripoli MP Nicolas Nahhas said World Bank officials ought to have communicated any concerns through official channels.

Mr Nahhas, 74, said he had fully complied with the vaccine programme’s criteria and registered through the official platform two weeks earlier.

He said the Parliament secretariat requested the inoculation of MPs on site for logistical and security reasons.

Others were less critical of the World Bank and they insisted they should not be accused of breaking the rules.

Yassin Jaber MP, a member of Speaker Nabih Berri’s parliamentary bloc who sits on the budget and finance subcommittee, said his medical condition and the nature of his work justified the inoculation, which he said was in line with protocol.

Lebanon has received 60,000 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses since February 13.

More than 22,000 vaccines have been administered with 60 per cent of those going to health workers.

But tens of thousands of registered frontline health workers and elderly Lebanese aged 75 and above have yet to receive a vaccine.

Abdul Rahman Bizri, head of the national Covid-19 committee, on Tuesday described the vaccination of MPs as unacceptable.

Mr Bizri, who asked for clarifications on why Lebanese parliamentarians received preferential treatment, said the committee will discuss the matter.

Tens of thousands of health workers and elderly Lebanese aged 75 and above have yet to receive a vaccine