Mikati Addresses Lebanon’s Humanitarian Needs with International Red Cross and Regional Representatives.

Beirut: Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, held a significant meeting on Tuesday with a delegation from the General Assembly of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, led by Secretary-General Jagan Chapagain. This meeting underscored Lebanon's urgent humanitarian needs amidst challenging times. According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the Lebanese Red Cross President, Dr. Antoine Zoghbi, highlighted the presence of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent delegation as a sign of solidarity with the Lebanese government, the Lebanese Red Cross, and the citizens of Lebanon. Chapagain, during the meeting, emphasized his visit's humanitarian nature, expressing his intent to connect with the Lebanese people and the Lebanese Red Cross. He announced the launch of an emergency appeal aimed at bolstering the Lebanese Red Cross's efforts in providing essential services, including emergency and medical services, blood supply, and primary healthcare. The appeal seeks the collec tive support of all 191 member societies, as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Federation. The Prime Minister's agenda also included a meeting with MP Dr. Abdel Rahman Al-Bizri, who raised concerns regarding the city of Sidon. Sidon has been accommodating a large influx of displaced citizens following recent escalations. Al-Bizri stressed the urgent need for basic services and called for enhanced backing for Civil Defense, which is currently operating with limited resources. Highlighting Sidon's dependence on the Palestinian Civil Defense for additional support, Al-Bizri shared that he approached the Prime Minister to advocate for increased resources to address the ongoing challenges. In addition to these discussions, PM Mikati met with Mohammad Reza Sheibani, the Special Envoy of the Iranian Foreign Minister for West Asia. The meeting focused on recent developments in the region, reflecting Lebanon's active engagement with regional partners amid pressing humanitarian and geopolit ical issues.