Mikati: Lebanon is facing one of the most dangerous moments in its history

BEIRUT — During a meeting with U.N. organizations and ambassadors of donor countries, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Tuesday that the Lebanese government established, in cooperation with U.N. organizations, an effective framework to ensure the rapid delivery of humanitarian assistance to displaced civilians.

Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging fire along the Lebanese-Israeli border since last October. Since last Monday, Israel launched intensive airstrikes, killing around a thousand people in Lebanon and displacing a million people.

The meeting held on Tuesday is part of the government's response plan to the displacement crisis resulting from the Israeli attacks against Lebanon. It was attended by the U.N. Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon Imran Riza, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Deputy Prime Minister Saadeh al-Shami as well as several ministers.

"We meet today at a time when Lebanon is facing one of the most dangerous moments in its history, as nearly one million of our people have been displaced by Israel's devastating war on Lebanon," Mikati said at the beginning of the meeting.

"We are working diligently in cooperation with U.N. organizations to secure the basic needs of the displaced Lebanese, as we have done during all the difficult phases that Lebanon has gone through," he said.

“We greatly appreciate the continued support of the United Nations, as well as the support of brotherly Arab countries and other friendly countries. Today, we urgently appeal for more support to enhance our ongoing efforts to provide essential assistance to displaced civilians. We have established, in cooperation and partnership with U.N. organizations, a specific, clear and effective framework to ensure the rapid, effective and transparent delivery of humanitarian assistance."

"I appeal to all of you to continue to stand by Lebanon and help us protect our people with dignity until they can safely return to their homes and towns," he said.

Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri expressed on Tuesday his appreciation for the efforts made by the Lebanese government to secure the necessary needs to "provide relief and shelter for those displaced by the Israeli attacks against Lebanon" and called the government to increase its efforts in this regard. Berri also endorsed the appeal made by Mikati to donor countries and relief agencies concerned.

The speaker called on all ministries and the High Relief Commission to fulfill their roles without delay and secure the requirements of a decent life for the internally displaced persons (IDP) in terms of shelter, social, health and medical services, especially since the winter season is coming.

He also thanked "brotherly Arab countries and friendly countries that took the initiative to send immediate aid, calling on the United Nations to establish an air bridge to ensure the delivery of relief materials and break the air blockade imposed by Israel on Lebanon."