Environment Minister Chairs Critical Meeting at Grand Serail to Assess Paris Conference Pledges.

BEIRUT: A meeting was held at the Grand Serail on Tuesday to follow up on the outcomes of the Paris Conference for Lebanon, which took place on October 24, 2024. The meeting was chaired by Caretaker Minister of Environment, Nasser Yassin, who is also the coordinator of the Government's Emergency Committee. According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the meeting was attended by Mr. Imran Riza, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon, along with representatives from concerned ministries and international organizations. The primary focus was on reviewing the pledges made by participating countries, which totaled nearly $1 billion. Out of this, $775 million has been allocated for humanitarian needs, while $204 million is designated to support the Lebanese military and security forces. To date, donors have contributed $108 million in grants to various international organizations. These contributions aim to cover part of the urgent joint appeal, known as the Flash Appeal. The meeting also emphasized the importance of establishing coordination mechanisms with donors. This involves collaboration between the Government Emergency Committee, the UN in Lebanon, and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which hosted the conference. Discussions during the meeting revolved around the allocation of pledges across different humanitarian sectors. Participants also examined ways to enhance the role of relevant ministries in providing essential services amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by the recent conflict. To promote transparency and ensure public access to information, the development of a unified platform was also explored. This platform, in collaboration with the UN, aims to track the management and distribution of financial and humanitarian aid, ensuring comprehensive data access from source to recipient. The meeting concluded with the release of a statement accompanied by a detailed table of humanitarian assistance, listing contributing countries and the specific allocations.