UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres launches a $325 million humanitarian appeal to support Lebanon as it responds to the displacement crisis caused by the war between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel.
“I am pleased to join all of you today as we launch a Flash Humanitarian Appeal of $325 million to support the people of Lebanon,” Guterres says during a conference attended by representatives of UN agencies and donor countries at the Lebanese prime minister’s office.
The appeal “will sustain and expand life-saving assistance over the next three months — including food, clean water, health care, education, protection and other vital services,” he adds.
Lebanon's President also said he had not received a response to his offer to hold direct talks with Israel.
Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war last week when the Iranian-backed Hezbollah attacked Israel in retaliation for the US-Israeli airstrikes that killed Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Israel expanded its strikes in Lebanon on Friday, targeting several areas, and Hezbollah launched new attacks on Israeli forces.
