UK Minister: Lebanon Threatened by a Silent Tsunami

W460

British Minister for the Middle East James Cleverly, who met Thursday with President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker PM Hassan Diab and PM-designate Saad Hariri, has written an op-ed on the occasion of his official visit to Lebanon.

Below is the full text of the op-ed:  

“In late July, via video conference, I visited Lebanon virtually. I was struck by the huge potential of Lebanon’s people, but also the great need for serious reform. Days later I watched with horror as the massive explosion ripped through Beirut’s port killing and injuring so many, destroying vital infrastructure and homes. The devastated port now sits as a dark reminder of the importance of acting on warnings when we receive them, and the consequences of poor management and corruption. 

We should always seek to prevent disasters. But sometimes this is not within our gift. We cannot, for example, control the weather and stop a hurricane, an earthquake or a tsunami. But we can invest in early warning systems, make plans to protect people, property and investments, ensure capabilities are in the right place and act on warnings when we receive them. 

Lebanon now faces a growing threat, putting its people at risk. It is the direct consequence of a flawed economic model. As with the port explosion, this is a man-made problem which could have been prevented. The risk has been largely silent but is now accelerating and growing with every passing day. Emergencies are approaching in education and healthcare, as well as electricity. But the most pressing danger is the risk to food security: Lebanon is on the verge of not being able to feed itself. 

In Lebanon there are now many worrying signs. A food security crisis often does not reveal itself until the worst of the damage is done. This is why this type of crisis is a silent tsunami. Lebanon is vulnerable because it imports an extraordinary amount of food, 85% of its domestic wheat consumption. On top of this are the continuous rises in basic goods prices, a 141% rise for food products by July compared with the same time last year. 

Those living on the margins in Lebanon including, but not only, Syrian refugees, have seen a shocking rise in their vulnerability. Almost all Syrian refugees now live in extreme poverty and unable to buy adequate food for their needs. Among the Lebanese, we are seeing people selling their possessions to buy food for their children, and long bread lines. The removal of subsidies is set to deteriorate the situation further. In late August, the United Nations predicted that over 50% of the population in Lebanon might be at risk of failing to access basic food needs by the end of 2020.  

Lebanon needs meaningful reform and development support, but experience shows us this will take time. Progress will be hard won, particularly given the extraordinary global challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Time is not on our side. Humanitarian action is needed as a bridge to these solutions, to reduce suffering and blunt the worst impacts of the crisis here. The UK will continue to support the most vulnerable. But urgent action by the Lebanese Government to protect people is vital. 

I reiterate my call to the leaders of Lebanon to do what is needed and deliver reforms, putting Lebanon on a path to a sustainable, transparent, accountable and inclusive future. Planning for a crisis is not just a technical exercise, but ultimately a political choice. You must have a plan and be ready to implement it, for the sake of those most in need. The international community, and your people, are watching. 

Lebanon’s people, and all others who call Lebanon home, deserve better. The alternative will be horrific. The UK will continue to stand as a steadfast partner to the people of Lebanon. But Lebanon’s leaders must act now.”

SourceNaharnet
Comments 5
Default-user-icon eli (Guest) 03 December 2020, 16:32

You are barking at the wrong tree. The leaders of Lebanon are corrupt to the core and are incapable to act honestly. In any other country these leaders would be prosecuted and committed for treason and murder. They have no conscience and no values.

Missing kazan 03 December 2020, 17:22

Who is listening?
a self-respecting country expects all government officials to at least meet the following characteristics: business knowledge, integrity, objectivity, dignity, fairness.
The majority of Lebanese officials adhere to the following:
lack of knowledge, corrupt, unreliable, criminal background, no feeling for the country nor for the people. And all (relevant) international organisations are aware of it.

Thumb chrisrushlau 03 December 2020, 19:01

So what's your point? "...reforms, putting Lebanon on a path to a sustainable, transparent, accountable and inclusive future" might be a reference to Article 24 of the Lebanese Constitution, part of which assigns half of parliamentary seats to the perhaps 30% of Lebanese who are Christian. "Planning...is...ultimately a political choice." Macron has called for an end to sectarianism in Lebanon. Is England too close to racist Israel to echo that call? Well, doesn't my example disprove my thesis? Does Israel with its "Jewish and democratic state" have a strong economy?

Missing hammerhead1 03 December 2020, 22:42

Chrisrushlau for as long as I can remember you have been barking up the same tree. Don’t you get it man, your Arab friends gave Christian’s %50 representation to keep you guys from each other’s throats and selling Lebanon to the dogs. Unfortunately in spite of that your mob seem to have accomplished that by assassinations and force of arms.

Default-user-icon funjo (Guest) 04 December 2020, 15:42

Chrisruhlau your theory has dropped since the expats got the right to vote. Now the Christians are short represented.