Govt in €2m aid boost for Lebanon

An extra €2m in humanitarian aid was today given to Lebanon by the Irish Government.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Noel Treacy said the total amount of assistance, given to the country since last summer’s month-long conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, has now reached €5m.

Mr Treacy was speaking at the International Conference on Lebanon chaired by President Jacques Chirac in Paris.

The minister emphasised the Government’s strong support for the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon and for the welfare of the Lebanese people.

The funding will go towards humanitarian assistance, recovery and reconstruction.

Mr Treacy told today’s conference that Ireland supported the government of Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and he stressed that the current political tensions in Lebanon can only be addressed through national political dialogue.

“The only viable way forward for the Lebanese people is through a concerted international effort to ensure the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701”.

The minister said that a 150-strong Irish contingent in the strengthened Unifil mission was a testimony to Ireland’s active commitment to UN peacekeeping and the Lebanese people.