UN Secretary-General Appeals for $325 Million in Emergency Aid for Lebanon Amidst ‘Catastrophic’ Humanitarian Crisis
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has issued an urgent appeal for $325 million in emergency humanitarian aid to support the people of Lebanon. This call for assistance was made following data released by Al Jazeera.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, stated in an interview with Al Jazeera Mubasher that Guterres made this request during his visit to Lebanon. He further revealed that multiple mechanisms, both within the UN and from other parties, would be in place to encourage factions to cease hostilities. Dujarric highlighted that Lebanese civilians are caught in the ongoing conflict, emphasizing that the current focus is on Lebanon.
He described the humanitarian situation in Lebanon as catastrophic, noting that over 800,000 people have been forced to abandon their homes and are attempting to relocate to the north. The UN spokesperson expressed regret over the current developments, particularly in light of Israel’s refusal to negotiate with Lebanon and its threats to deploy ground forces. He mentioned that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been sending reports concerning exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as reports on the advancement of Israeli ground forces and certain infiltrations, all of which have contributed to the dire humanitarian situation.
Global Implications
Conversely, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General pledged that the international organization would exert all efforts to bring the United States and Iran back to the negotiation table, warning that the consequences of this war are not confined to the region but will be global. Dujarric stated that the priority is to prevent the spread of the war in the region. He pointed out the significant number of civilian casualties in countries bordering the Persian Gulf as well as in Israel, in addition to the economic repercussions of the war. He indicated a serious threat to the security and peace of the region, quoting Article 2 of the UN Charter which prohibits the use of force by one country against another without the authorization of the UN Security Council – a situation he described as currently unfolding in the region.
Regarding the UN’s capacity to fulfill its responsibilities, Dujarric commented that some members of the UN Security Council are violating international laws. Since February 28th, the United States and Israel have launched extensive attacks against Iran, which have resulted in the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei, the Leader of the Revolution, and several prominent military officials and commanders. In response to this blatant violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Iran has retaliated and continues to retaliate with missiles and drones, as well as by targeting American bases in the region.
The conflict has expanded to Lebanon, which has been subjected to intense Israeli airstrikes and ground incursions in the south since the beginning of the current month. Hezbollah is targeting military objectives in the occupied territories with rockets and missiles.
