Day: 1 October 2024

The Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati and the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, jointly launched a USD 426 million urgent humanitarian appeal on Tuesday, to address the escalating conflict and humanitarian crisis in Lebanon In a statement, the Lebanese government noted that the appeal was made in the presence of representatives from UN agencies, member states, and local and international partners.

According to the statement, over 1,000 people have lost their lives, more than 6,000 have been injured, and nearly one million people have been displaced since October 2023.

Prime Minister Mikati called for immediate action from the international community, calling for urgent increased support and humanitarian aid.

The humanitarian appeal aims to assist one million people affected by the Israeli occupation aggression by addressing critical needs such as food, shelter, healthcare, water, and municipal services.

UN Humanitarian Coordinator Imran Riza stressed that without sufficient financi
al resources, the Lebanese population would be facing a humanitarian catastrophe.

Riza added that while resources were essential, they would not fully resolve the crisis if civilians continue to be targeted.

He called for swift and decisive action to ensure that those affected receive the necessary support in accordance with international humanitarian law regarding civilian protection and the facilitation of humanitarian aid.

Since October 8, Lebanon has been provided with USD 9 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and USD 24 million from the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund in April and August 2024, respectively.

Riza also announced additional allocations of USD 10 million from the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund and USD 10 million from CERF to meet basic life needs and support efforts to expand and sustain the humanitarian response.

However, he emphasized that these contributions were insufficient to cope with the catastrophic humanitarian crisis, noting the severe resource shortages, and call
ed for additional contributions from the international community to address the urgent needs.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged the UN General Assembly on Monday to immediately recommend the use of force for Gaza, similar to the a 1950 measure known as the Uniting for Peace resolution.

“Today, standing up for Palestine, Lebanon means standing up for the humanity, peace, and the culture of coexistence among different beliefs,” Erdogan said after a Cabinet meeting in the Turkish capital Ankara.

“A handful of radical Zionists, blinded by blood and hatred, are setting the region and the whole world on fire. We will never consent to this cruelty and barbarism,” he said about Israel’s continuing attacks on Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.

The Uniting for Peace resolution, passed in November 1950, says that in any cases where the Security Council, due to a lack of agreement among its five permanent members, does not act as needed for the sake of international security and peace, the General Assembly can issue appropriate recommendations to UN members for collective measures, including the use
of armed force when necessary.

Erdogan has frequently criticized the UN Security Council’s failure to act over the last year as Israel killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and also launched massive airstrikes in Lebanon in recent weeks.

In his address last week to the UN General Assembly in New York, Erdogan said, he highlighted Israel’s genocide of the people of Gaza, and drew attention to other conflicts and atrocities in the region.

He added that standing up for Palestine and Lebanon means standing up for “humanity, peace, and the culture of coexistence among different beliefs.” “Islamic countries should have the biggest reaction to oppression in the Gaza, West Bank, and Lebanon. As Muslims, we need to lead the world in curbing oppression,” he added.

Source: Kuwait News Agency