The UN indicated on Friday that there was a serious shortage of funds for humanitarian aid in Lebanon, whose appeal was only 17% funded. “The needs are growing by the minute, and the pledges of funds are not enough to buy food, medicine or shelter”declared the spokesperson for the UN humanitarian coordination agency (Ocha), Jens Laerke, during a press briefing in Geneva.
“We are facing a rapid deterioration in the humanitarian situation” et “We therefore hope that the United Nations agencies and our partners will quickly receive funds”he reported.
The spokesperson explained that the humanitarian appeal for Lebanon had obtained only 17% of the 426 million dollars requested, including 17 million from Italy, 11.7 million from the United States, 10 million from the humanitarian fund. UN Emergency for Humanitarian Crises, 9.3 million from Sweden, 7.2 million from France, 6.4 million from the United Kingdom and 5.5 million from the German government.
“We of course thank the French government for hosting the important donor conference last month, in October (…), noted Mr. Laerke. But we also want to remind donors that there is an urgent need to turn these pledges into cash.” so that the UN can really provide aid to Lebanon, he added, assuring: “We won't be able to do it if the money doesn't come to us quickly. »
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