NNA – President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, met UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Human Settlements Program, Ms. Maimouna Muhammad Sharif, today at the Presidential Palace.
The President informed the UN official that “Lebanon, which is facing difficult economic and social conditions, looks forward to the support of the United Nations organizations and brotherly-friendly countries so that he can get out of the hardship which he has been experiencing for months”.
President Aoun stressed that the aid received by Lebanon is not sufficient in view of the damage sustained, whether after the explosion in the port of Beirut, or the spread of the “Corona” pandemic, and the issue of Syrian displacement, which doubled during the years of the Syrian war, until the number of Syrian refugees reached one million and 800 thousand displaced. “The cost incurred by Lebanon exceeded 45 billion dollars, in addition to the negative repercussions on the Lebanese economy after the closure of the Lebanese-Syrian borders and the inability to export Lebanese products” the President added.
President Aoun also considered it “Impossible to continue in receiving this huge number of displaced Syrians. The international community on one side and the United Nations on the other hand should work to return them to their villages in Syria, especially those which have become safe”.
In addition, President Aoun considered that “International solidarity with Lebanon is a sign of confidence in the future of this country and its people, despite all the harsh conditions it is currently going through”. The President then stressed that “The Lebanese will to face challenges is firm, and the international community must play its role in helping to find solutions to the successive crises, in our country”.
Then, the President praised the assistance provided by the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN HABITAT), which works for a better urban future and achieve sustainable urban development, especially after the explosion of the Beirut Port, where it conducted a field survey of the damage and collected 160,000 tons of rubble. It also launched an emergency aid project worth $157.7 million, and rehabilitated 23 schools in Beirut and Mount Lebanon and 100 housing units. President Aoun hoped that the work of the program would continue in all its fields of competence.
Mrs. Maymouna Sharif had expressed her happiness to be in Lebanon with the accompanying delegation, and briefed President Aoun on the activities carried out by the United Nations Human Settlements Program and the 24 projects it intends to achieve, in addition to the program’s response to the disaster after the explosion of the Port of Beirut.
Mrs. Sharif pointed out that the priorities of the program are achieving sustainable and inclusive urban development, developing development frameworks, and making cities able to withstand and overcome the challenges they face to continue growth.
In addition, Mrs. Sharif expressed the program’s solidarity with Lebanon’s President, government and people, stressing the continuation of work to provide all possible assistance so that Lebanon can overcome the difficult circumstances it is going through.
The UN official pointed out that the program worked after the July war in 2006 to provide immediate assistance, and is currently working to address the crisis of the displaced Syrians and provide support to municipalities, noting the positions of the President of the Republic and his wise management of the situation in Lebanon, in addition to his permanent determination to coordinate with United Nations organizations to achieve sustainable development. Mrs. Sharif also stressed the development of a strategy to achieve short-term and long-term goals, hoping to obtain the support of the Lebanese government for it.
Ms. Maymouna Sharif was accompanied by the Head of the UN-Habitat Country Program, Ms. Taina Christiansen, Executive Office Director Dr. Neil Khor, and the Regional Representative of UN-Habitat in the Arab World, Mr. Irfan Ali.
Arab delegation to congratulate on Resistance and Liberation Day:
President Aoun met a delegation from the “Islamic National Conference”, including heads of parties, representatives, political and union figures from Lebanon and a number of Arab countries.
The delegation came to the Presidential Palace to offer congratulations on the occasion of the Resistance and Liberation Day.
At the beginning of the meeting, the General Coordinator of the Islamic National Conference, Dr. Khaled Al-Sufyani, confirmed the participation of Lebanon in its celebration of the anniversary of the Resistance and Liberation Day, as well as the participation of “the Palestinian resistance in its great victory over the Zionist entity”.
Al Sufyani pointed out that this visit would not have been complete without meeting President Aoun, who has become a symbol of steadfastness and wisdom, and well-known for his patriotic and national stances.
Al-Sufyani addressed President Aoun: “We are proud of your stances and steadfastness against the conspiracy targeting Lebanon, the model of democracy and true coexistence among its various components. We consider that Lebanon’s security is an essential part of our national security, and that its progress is essential to the nation’s progress despite all the difficulties it is going through, under the era of a President of the Republic who was able to manage one of the most difficult stages that the nation and Lebanon are going through, especially since you have not abandoned any part of this nation’s constants”.
For his part, President Aoun welcomed the delegation, expressing his happiness at receiving “Arab friends and brothers from all over the region, from the East and West”.
The President stressed that “Lebanon celebrates the Resistance Day every year because it constituted a model of steadfastness and victory”.
In addition, President Aoun recalled his stances during the July war, stressing what he said at the time that “Israel will not prevail after this war, and it has become unable to achieve victory in any war. This was evident in the last Gaza war, where the Israeli enemy, as well as the world, were surprised, with the resistance and what it achieved, the scales turned”.
The President concluded wishing that “The Palestinian cause will return to be the main cause of the Arabs”.
The delegation included representatives from: Lebanon, the West, Mauritania, Tunisia, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Chad, Bahrain, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Somalia.—Presidency Press Office
Source: National News Agency