Saudi Arabia – Support for the Lebanese people (01 Mar. 2022)

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, agreed during a meeting in Paris on February 28 that France and Saudi Arabia would provide emergency financial support for a series of humanitarian projects aimed at assisting the Lebanese people, following a decision taken by President Macron and the Saudi Crown Prince on December 4.

These are the first projects that will 1) provide support for the hospital in Tripoli as well as several primary health clinics throughout Lebanon; 2) provide emergency support for the Lebanese people by assisting agencies to combat Covid-19; 3) distribute emergency aid – both financial and food aid – to the most vulnerable Lebanese, and especially milk for children; and 4) support several educational institutions.

These joint humanitarian projects are a first step toward stepping up joint efforts by France and Saudi Arabia in the context of the serious crisis in Lebanon. In this same spirit, a joint mechanism to support NGOs on the ground will be established to meet the needs of the Lebanese people; a specific arrangement will soon be signed in this regard.