UN leader visits Lebanon, says more aid needed

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday the international community has not done enough to support Lebanon which is grappling with a dire economic crisis and is home to over 1 million Syrian refugees.

The UN leader urged more support at the start of a three-day visit to the small Mediterranean country.

Guterres arrived on the high profile visit earlier Sunday, and spoke after his meeting with President Michel Aoun.

At the outset, Guterres said the visit will focus on supporting the people of the crisis-stricken country.

But he pressed the political leadership to overcome their differences to find ways to resolve the crisis.  

International donors, including traditional supporters of Lebanon, have extended humanitarian assistance to the country to deal with the crisis, but have declined to offer support to the government before a plan for reform is agreed upon.  

The Lebanese are facing a deteriorating economic situation that began in late 2019 and is rooted in years of mismanagement and corruption.

The crisis, including a serious collapse of the national currency and deepening poverty, has since only been compounded by the pandemic, bickering among rival political groups and a massive explosion at the port of Beirut in August 2020 that left over 216 people killed and thousands injured.

It also destroyed major parts of the capital.

"I believe the international community has not done enough to support Lebanon...and other countries in the world that have opened their borders, doors and hearts to refugees when unfortunately some much more richer and much more powerful close their borders," Guterres said speaking to the press as he stood next to Aoun.

He said a U.N. emergency response plan is only 11% funded, urging more support.

Lebanon's population of 6 million includes over 1 million Syrian refugees.

Lebanon's crisis has been made worse by a political leadership deeply divided over key issues leading to a paralysis of the government and parliament.

The divisions have delayed reforms and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund over a recovery plan.

The political class is also divided over the domestic probe into the Beirut Port explosion.

Guterres is planning to visit the port to pay tribute to those killed in the explosion and meet with families of the victims.

The economic collapse in Lebanon has been described as one of the worst in the world in over 150 years.