International Aid Confab for Lebanon Will Be Short on Pledges

An international video conference hosted by France on humanitarian aid for Lebanon will discuss the humanitarian crisis in the country, but is unlikely to raise many funds. The meeting set to be held on Wednesday is co-sponsored by the United Nations. It is the second such conference since a giant explosion at Beirut’s port killed over 200 people and caused serious damage throughout Lebanon’s capital. The country also is suffering from a financial crisis exacerbated by the world coronavirus crisis. Twenty-seven countries were scheduled to participate in Wednesday’s video conference, including 12 heads of state. The participants are likely to discuss the country’s urgent need for the funds but probably will not pledge any new money until there is political reform. Current Lebanese politicians have been blamed for financial mismanagement that has left the country nearly bankrupt. Any aid money that is raised will go directly to non-profit organizations that will distribute it directly to the public, The Associated Press reported. A similar conference to help Lebanon in August raised some $298 million in pledges.