First Saudi humanitarian aid arrives to Beirut

Several countries continue to send humanitarian aid to the displaced in south Lebanon and the Bekaa. More than a million people have already left their homes in areas regularly bombed by the Israeli air force, particularly since the military escalation that began on Sept. 23, and are now living in various other places ranging from reception centers, homes or on the streets.

The first shipment of medical aid from Saudi Arabia was received on Saturday at Beirut airport in the presence of the caretaker ministers of Economy, Amine Salam, Environment, Nasser Yassine, who is in charge of the emergency committee, the secretary-general of the High Committee for Relief, Mohammad Kheir, and the Saudi ambassador to Beirut, Walid Boukhari.

The shipment is the first of its kind to arrive in Beirut from Saudi Arabia as part of an "air bridge" of aid to Lebanon established by Riyadh. Yassin thanked the kingdom for its initiative. Caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati thanked Saudi Arabia for sending "a first plane that opens an air bridge to deliver aid to Lebanon." He was speaking at a meeting in Beirut with Boukhari, the content of which was reported by the state-run National News Agency.

The latter said: "This Saudi aid demonstrates solidarity with the Lebanese people and Arab brotherhood. The Kingdom will spare no effort to provide the necessary assistance, especially in these difficult circumstances."

Qatar Airlift

In addition, as part of the Qatari airlift, a third plane landed Sunday afternoon at the airport, carrying new aid. Caretaker Minister of Health Firas Abiad was there, alongside Ambassador Saoud Ben Abdel Rahman Al Thani, to receive the aid, which consists of 17.3 tons of medicines and medical equipment. Since the start of this airlift established a few days ago by Qatari Minister of State for International Cooperation Louloua Ben Rached Khater, 50 tons of medicines and medical equipment have already been sent to Lebanon, the ambassador said.

More aid is expected to arrive by air in Beirut on Monday, including one from the Sultanate of Oman, Lebanese Ambassador to Muscat Albert Samaha announced on Sunday. The aid was decided by Sultan Haytham Ben Tarek, through the Omani Aid Agency, and will include 40 tons of medicines and other humanitarian equipment. The announcement was confirmed by the Ministry of Health.

Finally, the Consulate General of Lebanon in Rio de Janeiro, with the help of a crisis unit set up on site, was able to send, after a first batch of 7 tons, a second batch of 4 tons of various medicines to Beirut. This second shipment will leave Rio de Janeiro to reach the Guarulhos air base, in the state of Sao Paulo, then Lebanon.

These donations are the result of contacts made by the Rio consulate with Brazilian pharmaceutical laboratories, which responded and sent their donations to the Lebanese state, reports the local agency al-Markazia. The second phase of humanitarian aid will include medicines for the war wounded.

This article originally appeared in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.