Plumbly Says World Bank to Discuss Support for Lebanon Next Week

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly on Wednesday noted that the international support for Lebanon that was decided at the NY meeting is a “continuous process” that will be expanded “in due course,” revealing that the issue will be discussed in Washington during a World Bank meeting next week.

Following talks with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain al-Tineh, Plumbly said he briefed the Lebanese leader on the inaugural meeting of the International Support Group for Lebanon in New York, describing it as “a strong indicator of the international commitment to supporting Lebanon during this difficult period.”

“I told Speaker Berri this will be a continuous process and that group members looked forward to its expansion in due course. It is aimed at helping Lebanon face the challenges to its economy and state institutions resulting mainly from the Syrian crisis,” he added.

The U.N. official said it was also agreed during the talks that “safeguarding Lebanon's security and stability can best be undertaken by strengthening state institutions.”

“In that regard, I expressed the hope that efforts to form a new government capable of facing all these challenges would make progress soon. I also welcomed the efforts of Speaker Berri in encouraging dialogue among all sides in Lebanon,” Plumbly added.

Earlier on Wednesday, he met with caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel to discuss the latest security developments in Lebanon.

The U.N. official welcomed “the diligent efforts of Lebanon's security forces in tackling recent security incidents, notably the recent measures introduced in Beirut’s southern suburbs and in other areas to keep Lebanon safe.”

Asked by a reporter about remarks by the President of the World Bank that the number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon was “catastrophic” for the country, Plumbly said: “He was describing the extent of the problem. This meeting in New York encouraged the international community as a whole to share in carrying this burden, particularly -- with regard to the World Bank -- when it comes to the negative impact on the Lebanese budget and on Lebanese institutions who are helping the refugees and on state funds.”

He pointed out that the World Bank will be holding its annual meeting in Washington next week, adding that “there Lebanon, donor countries and the Bank will be able to hold initial discussions on possible responses by the Lebanese government in the first place, and then by donor countries and international organizations, to the assessment of the impact of the crisis presented to the New York meeting, and what projects and programs might be undertaken to help all concerned to share the burden."

Caretaker Minister of Social Affairs Wael Abou Faour said from Geneva that Lebanon counted by Monday evening some 769,000 Syrians registered or in the process of registering as refugees, pointing out that on Monday morning the number had been 763,000.

Including all the unregistered Syrians, the actual number is around 1.3 million, he said, or about 30 percent of the Lebanese population.