Luxembourg Pledges €4m to Support Humanitarian Organisations in Lebanon

Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Xavier Bettel, participated in the International Conference in Support of Lebanon's People and Sovereignty, which was held in Paris, France on Thursday 24 October 2024.

At the invitation of the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, the ministerial conference brought together several ministers from the EU and the region as well as representatives of European institutions, international and regional organisations, the private sector and NGOs active in Lebanon.

In the presence of the Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, Minister Bettel reaffirmed Luxembourg's solidarity with the Lebanese people, as well as the Grand Duchy's commitment to the sovereignty and security of Lebanon, noted Luxembourg's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"We are all aware of the seriousness of the humanitarian situation in Lebanon. The challenges before us are not limited to numbers or statistics; they concern human lives, torn apart families and dashed hopes. It is imperative to work together for an immediate ceasefire along the Blue Line and for a lasting diplomatic solution," stressed Minister Bettel.

In response to the emergency appeals issued by humanitarian organisations, Luxembourg has decided to allocate a contribution of €4 million to UN agencies such as the UNHCR, WFP, OCHA and UNRWA, as well as to the ICRC and Luxembourg NGOs that are working to provide aid to the Lebanese people and refugees hosted in the country.

Faced with the large number of civilian victims in the Israeli bombings in Lebanon, Luxembourg is calling on the Israeli government and Hezbollah to put an end to the "vicious circle of violence". Minister Bettel also expressed his full support for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission. He noted that Luxembourg condemns any attack against UN missions, and is particularly concerned by the attacks carried out by the Israeli army against UNIFIL. The Foreign Ministry said these attacks against UN peacekeepers constitute "a serious violation of international law, are totally unacceptable and must cease immediately".

According to international media reports, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed that the International Conference in Support of Lebanon's People and Sovereignty has raised $1 billion in pledges for humanitarian aid and military support.