Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (center) with caretaker Environment Minister Nasser Yassin (right) and Imran Riza, the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (left) at the Grand Serail. (Courtesy of Michel Hallak/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati held a series of meetings regarding the national emergency plan at the Grand Serail on Tuesday. These meetings are part of the “government's broader strategy to address the ongoing crisis and potential escalation caused by recent Israeli aggression,” his press office said in a statement.
The caretaker Cabinet will also meet on Wednesday to discuss the government's emergency plan.
Mikati emphasized that the foremost concern is “uniting the Lebanese people is confronting the new threats from Israel and the persistent aggression that has been impacting Lebanon for months.”
“Israeli aggression and threats should act as a strong impetus for national solidarity,” Mikati stated. He urged against engaging in side discussions that could detract from the main issue and praised local initiatives aimed at supporting displaced Lebanese.
The Prime Minister announced that the Cabinet will discuss detailed measures and strategies related to the national emergency plan and the Syrian refugee situation in Wednesday’s meeting.
He called for increased international support, highlighting the significant challenges Lebanon faces due to the influx of Syrian refugees.
With an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, it is the country with the highest number of refugees per capita in the world. Around 800,000 Syrian refugees are registered with the U.N., but their exact number is unknown, largely because in 2015, the Lebanese government asked the UNHCR to stop registering them. Last year, the Lebanese authorities called on UNHCR to provide them again with this data.
Mikati also met with Matthew Hollingworth, the Regional Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), to review the program’s activities and the assistance provided to displaced individuals from southern Lebanon. The discussion also included Mikati’s advisor, Ziad Mikati.
In another significant meeting, Mikati, alongside U.N. National Emergency Committee Coordinator caretaker Environment Minister Nasser Yassin, conferred with Imran Riza, the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon. Yassin highlighted that the meeting “aimed to coordinate ongoing international support and plan future discussions with donor countries,” the statement noted.
Security Briefing
Mikati met with Major General Elias Baissari, Acting Director General of General Security, to discuss the current security situation in Lebanon and ensure coordinated responses to emerging Israeli threats.
The caretaker government had sent a circular on Friday, through the Foreign Affairs Ministry, to all Lebanese diplomatic missions abroad, outlining its vision for stability in South Lebanon, 10 months after the start of the clashes between Israel and Hezbollah. Hezbollah entered the war on Oct.8 in "support" of its Palestinian ally in Gaza, Hamas.
The circular called for "strengthening the capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces to maintain security and stability in the region."