Report: U.S. to Pledge Huge Financial Aid for Lebanon during Donor Conference

U.S. Ambassador David Hale has reportedly informed Lebanese officials that Washington will announce a huge financial aid for the Lebanese government during a donors conference in Kuwait.

Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas told al-Liwaa newspaper published on Wednesday that Hale discussed with him the March 31 conference. He did not give more details.

But al-Mustaqbal daily said the diplomat officially informed Prime Minister Tammam Salam and Derbas that the U.S. will make a huge donation to help Lebanon confront the burden of Syrian refugees.

Kuwait has hosted previous such conferences in the past two years which saw pledges of around $4 billion in aid, including $800 million from the Gulf State.

But U.N. humanitarian agencies have complained that many donors have not followed through on pledges, forcing them to cut assistance to millions of Syrians.

Al-Liwaa said that Salam will head the Lebanese delegation to Kuwait. He will be accompanied by Derbas, who on Tuesday discussed with the PM the arrangements for the trip.

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