U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis on Monday announced that the U.N. in Lebanon is preparing a COVID-19 funding appeal, to be issued this week, to support the national COVID-19 response.

“The appeal is divided into four priority areas: 1. Supporting the preparedness and response capacity of the Lebanese health system in coping with COVID-19 outbreak; 2. Strengthening the engagement and communication with communities, and support for good hygiene practice; 3. Prompted by the Syrian war and humanitarian crisis, delivering critical assistance and services to most vulnerable communities… and 4. Expanding support to growing numbers of vulnerable Lebanese population groups not covered under the LCRP (Lebanon Crisis Response Plan),” Kubis said.

The Health Ministry announced in its daily report on coronavirus that 14 new cases of the virus were detected on Monday raising the total to 541.

Chairman of the Middle East Airlines Mohammed Hout defended the airline’s position on Monday, amid allegations it is charging high costs for repatriating Lebanese in the midst of a coronavirus crisis.

“Our priority is the continuity of the company, we are unable to support the expatriates returning from abroad,” Hout said in a press conference.

An Israeli unit comprising ten troops has crossed the technical fence near the settlement of Misgav Am off the town of Adaisseh in Marjayoun and combed the area, the National New Agency reported on Monday.

Lebanon's President Michel Aoun on Monday called on international donors to provide financial assistance to the crisis-hit country as it grapples with a severe economic downturn compounded by the coronavirus.

Health Minister Hamad Hassan assured in a tweet on Monday that Lebanese nationals repatriated from Abu Dhabi late on Sunday have all tested negative for coronavirus.

The plane was the second to land at Beirut airport carrying Lebanese passengers who were stuck abroad over coronavirus lockdown.

Former prime minister Saad Hariri on Sunday hailed the Lebanese government’s plan for repatriating expats from a number of countries.

“The measures that have been taken to transfer the Lebanese from abroad are worthy of appreciation,” Hariri tweeted.

Lebanon confirmed seven new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours as a patient passed away raising the country’s death toll to 18, the Health Ministry said at noon Sunday.

The seven cases take the tally of cases to 527, the Ministry said in a statement, noting that 389 lab tests were carried out over the past 24 hours.

Health Minister Hamad Hasan on Sunday reassured that the health safety measures authorities have taken as part of the expat return plan are “very serious and at a high level of professionalism.”

“Health Ministry crews will head to the planes and will accompany the returnees at the medical and health levels,” Hasan said at Beirut’s airport shortly before the arrival of the first evacuation plane from Riyadh.

Lebanon on Sunday kicked off the first phase of a plan to bring home willing Lebanese expats in connection with the global coronavirus crisis.

Shortly before an evacuation plane from Riyadh touched down, Prime Minister Hassan Diab, Health Minister Hamad Hasan and several others ministers inspected the measures at the Rafik Hariri International Airport.