International Conference in Support of Lebanon’s People and Sovereignty (Paris, 24 Oct. 2024)

The International Conference in Support of Lebanon’s People and Sovereignty was held in Paris today, on President Macron’s initiative, in conjunction with the United Nations. Seventy States and international organizations committed to Lebanon took part in it, alongside representatives of NGOs, local government and the private sector.

The conference signalled the strong mobilization by the international community, united around President Emmanuel Macron and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot, in support of a massive emergency humanitarian response to the crisis Lebanon is currently going through.

Faced with the consequences of the war, the participants responded to the United Nations’ appeal and announced $1 billion in aid, including $800 million in humanitarian aid and $200 million to support Lebanon’s security forces.

France has pledged to raise €100 million and deploy 100 tonnes of humanitarian freight.

This aid will help address the urgent needs of the Lebanese people, especially displaced people, in the health, food, water, hygiene and sanitation, and education sectors.

The conference enabled the Lebanese security forces, guarantors of the country’s unity, stability and sovereignty, to be lent additional support. This support, financial and in kind, should allow them to preserve civil peace and prepare a massive deployment of the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon, as part of a diplomatic settlement.

The conference underlined the urgent need for a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel and for a diplomatic settlement based on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 making it possible to ensure the safety of the populations and the safe return of displaced people to their homes, in both Lebanon and Israel.

Finally, the conference provided the opportunity to call on Lebanon’s authorities and political groups to elect a president as soon as possible, an essential stage in getting the Lebanese institutions up and running again.