UN: Lebanon needs help to cope with mounting crises

Lebanon is in need of greater assistance, said the UN Secretary-General on 30 September.

The country is facing numerous challenges especially as it tries to deal with the Syrian refugee crisis, Ban Ki-Moon told a ministerial meeting of the International Support Group for Lebanon.

"The response has been significant. I welcome the generous support of donors – but this has not matched the country's exceptional needs," said Ban Ki-Moon.

Syrian refugees now make up a quarter of the Lebanese population, and over a million have arrived in the country since the crisis in Syria began in 2011.

The secretary-general said Lebanon needed greater support for public institutions, especially municipalities to enable them to deliver basic service and maintain a peaceful environment.

Syrian refugees now make up a quarter of the Lebanese population.

"Resources are insufficient. Needs are rising. If we do not bridge this gap, there will be far-reaching consequences for the region and beyond," he said.

Ban Ki-Moon called on bilateral partners to increase their support for the Lebanese armed forces to enable them to effectively address security threats.

He also focused on the presidential vacuum with rivals leaders failing to elect a new president since Michel Suleiman term ended in May 2014.

The International Support Group for Lebanon said this "seriously impairs" Lebanon's ability to address the security, economic, social and humanitarian challenges it faces.

After the meeting the group stressed the need for Lebanese political leaders to resolve the political stalemate by electing a president and restoring a fully functioning government.

"The international community has a deep investment in Lebanon," Ban Ki-Moon stressed.

"The country has always stood as a symbol of co-existence. Stability there can help the increasingly fractured region."