Thread by @MTVEnglishNews

President Michel Aoun during United Nations General Assembly: I thank all of the heads of state who participated in the August 9 conference to support #Lebanon after Beirut explosion, and a special thanks to Pope Francis

Aoun: I salute Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his continuous efforts at the helm of the international organization and for his efforts to help Lebanon after Beirut port explosion, in particular for organizing the Beirut Support Conference to mobilize donor pledges (1/2)

(2/2) and provide basic relief aid with the kind initiative of friendly French President Emmanuel Macron

Aoun: Material damages of the explosion are unprecedented, not to mention that the port of #Beirut, a vital crossing point for economic activity in Lebanon, is almost destroyed

Aoun: There are nearly 200,000 damaged houses, some of which have become uninhabitable, and about 300,000 people are homeless, in addition to the great damage to the infrastructure and the electricity and water networks

Aoun: Repercussions will not only affect economic activity, but will also raise poverty rates that were 45% before the explosion, according to the World Bank’s assessment

Aoun: The World Bank estimated the economic loss resulting from the explosion at about $3.5 billion, material damage at about $4.5 billion, and emergency reconstruction needs at about $2 billion

Aoun: Beirut today is trying to rise from its rubble, and it is with the solidarity of all the Lebanese and your support that it will heal its wounds and rise as it has previously risen repeatedly throughout history

Aoun: The earthquake explosion that struck our capital dug deep into the Lebanese conscience; pictures of the victims, the pain of the wounded, and the tears of those who lost a loved one will never be erased

Aoun: There is a great need for the international community to support the reconstruction of totally destroyed neighborhoods and facilities; perhaps the safest solution is to divide the devastated area into geographical areas (1/2)

(2/2) and each country that wants to offer assistance adheres to a specific area and undertakes its reconstruction directly

Aoun: Teams from several countries came for technical assistance to investigate and carried out the necessary research; we are still waiting for their information about the ship’s mystery, as well as the satellite images to clear the ambiguity in this part of the investigation

Aoun: Lebanon committed itself in front of the international community to undertake a package of administrative, financial, and economic reforms aimed at facilitating the recovery process that we all look forward to

Aoun: Lebanon renews its commitment to implement Resolution 1701 in all its components, believing that this establishes the rules of stability and security in southern #Lebanon, which will reflect stability in the whole region, and any breach further complicates the situation

Aoun: Lebanon reiterates its demand for the international community to oblige Israel to stop its violations of Lebanese sovereignty by land, sea and air, and to stop violating its airspace and using it to strike Syrian lands

Aoun: Lebanon also calls on the international community to urge Israel to fully cooperate with UNIFIL to demarcate what remains of the Blue Line and immediately withdraw from northern Ghajar, Shebaa Farms, and Kfarshouba hills