Dr Ian Collard, the British Ambassador to Lebanon, and Lucy Andrews, the British Embassy’s Development and Humanitarian Director, visited projects funded by the UK in response to the devastating Beirut Port blast in August 2020 on Tuesday, June 21.
Under the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan framework, Ambassador Collard visited two of the 43 businesses supported by the UK through the Lebanon Host Communities Support Programme (LHSP), which is run in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Berytech.
This funding has aided in the recovery of livelihoods by providing cash grants and business development assistance to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) affected by the explosion.
More than 300 jobs were saved as a result of this project, and plans to hire another 100 people are in the works.
UNDP partners briefed Ambassador Collard on the work being done with the Beirut Port Silos Authorities to support the port’s operations recovery at the port of Beirut.
The provision of necessary machinery by the UK is helping to organize and improve the off-loading of wheat and other grains.
The United Kingdom was one of the first countries to respond to the Beirut port explosion in August 2020, spending $22 million so far.
Furthermore, the United Kingdom has been a major supporter of the LHSP, contributing $94 million since 2014 to host communities and vulnerable refugees across Lebanon, improving public services and infrastructure for over 2220 municipalities and over 1 million people.
Ambassador Collard said at the conclusion of the visit:
As I near the end of my tour in Lebanon, I’m looking forward to returning to projects that the UK supports.
As we approach the tragic port explosion’s second anniversary in August 2020, I’m back at the port today, this time to see how UK support is assisting with the port’s recovery.
The United Kingdom reiterates its call for a successful conclusion to a fair and transparent investigation into the Beirut Blast, as well as proper accountability. This is the only way for the victims, their families, and the people of Lebanon to find closure.
I also had the chance to visit two of the 43 businesses in Gemmayze that were impacted by the blast and are being supported by the Lebanon Host Communities Support Program.
It was crucial to see and hear about the challenges people and partners face in difficult economic times, as well as the positive impact our projects are having.
It was heartwarming to hear from Café owner Nabil and Wissam, who is preparing to reopen his boutique hotel, about their recovery journey.