Macron calls aid conference for blast-hit Lebanon ‘in coming days’

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers his speech during a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday Aug.6, 2020. (AP)

• He stressed that the aid raised during the conference would be channeled “directly to the people, the relief organizations and the teams that need it on the ground”
• The UN says it is releasing $9 million to address immediate needs following the explosion in Beirut

BEIRUT: French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that an international aid conference for disaster-hit Lebanon would be held soon.
Speaking to journalists at the end of snap visit to Beirut, where more than 130 people were killed in a massive explosion at the port on Tuesday, he said the conference would be held “in the coming days.”

He stressed that the aid raised during the conference would be channeled “directly to the people, the relief organizations and the teams that need it on the ground.”

Meanwhile, the United Nations says it is releasing $9 million to address immediate needs following the explosion that devastated Beirut and help strengthen operations in the city’s hospitals.
UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said on Thursday the money from the Lebanese Humanitarian Fund will be following by additional funds from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund.
He said the UN is carrying out assessments of the damage and needs resulting from the massive explosion and hopes to hold a meeting on Monday to inform the 193 UN member states of the results and launch an appeal to help Lebanon.