Special Presidential Envoy to Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian (C), flanked by French Ambassador to Lebanon Herve Magro (L), attends a meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at the Government Palace in Beirut, Lebanon, on Thursday. The meeting was part of a French push to lock in three priorities: reconstruction, economic revival and support for the Lebanese Army, while pressing Beirut to continue reforms and assert state authority. Photo by Wael Hamzeh/EPA
BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 5 (UPI) -- Lebanon on Friday launched a new, urgent humanitarian appeal, its second since the latest escalation in the Israel-Hezbollah war began in March, seeking an additional $331.5 million to assist 1.4 million people displaced or affected by the conflict.
The appeal would bring the total funding required through the end of August to $639.9 million, according to government figures.
Speaking at a conference in Beirut attended by ambassadors of donor countries and representatives of international organizations and U.N. agencies, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the humanitarian crisis "is deepening with each passing day" as the war continues.
"Today, the scale of the tragedy is greater, the burden of response is heavier and the needs are no longer merely emergency needs. They increasingly require more sustainable solutions," Salam said.
