France releases 25 million euros to help the housing and health sectors and aid economic recovery after the August 4 blast

In support of Lebanon, France, via the French Development Agency (AFD), has released 25 million euros to help some of the sectors most affected by the August 4 blast: namely health, education, housing, and economic recovery. This important support offered to the population also includes support for Lebanese and international civil society organizations.

 

Following the disaster that occurred on August 4, AFD immediately endeavored to reallocate funds meant for ongoing projects to emergency actions, to the tune of €5 million. In parallel, AFD mobilized an additional €20 million, a large part of which was signed for on November 5.

The Ambassador, for her part, affirmed that “France has been very reactive when it comes to responding to the needs linked to the Beirut port explosion, by valuing a rapid and targeted response to various priority sectors. The French response occurred in two stages: aid in kind delivered in the very first days following the August 4 blast, and then financial assistance to NGO’s in the second phase, which has just begun.” 

The convention signing ceremony took place at the Jisr el Wati center of the Lebanese NGO Arcenciel, itself damaged by the explosion. Its rehabilitation is also being funded by AFD.

Before the signing ceremony, the Ambassador visited a building devastated by the explosion which is currently undergoing repair work in the Gemmayze district. “Beyond reconstruction, what we wish to see preserved is the social link. This is one of AFD’s strategic priorities,” explained Arthur Germond, Country Director of AFD in Lebanon.

The eight agreements signed on this occasion provide for:

• Aid for the Lebanese NGO Arcenciel, which specializes in supporting people with disabilities. This funding will allow the NGO to not only repair the damage to its premises but also help find jobs for people disabled by the explosion and launch recycling activities for glass shattered by the explosion.
• Support for small-scale civil society organizations, through the Shabake project, the civil society capacity-building project, implemented by Expertise France. 
• Funding for housing-related projects implemented by the Norwegian Refugee Council. It will contribute to the access of the most vulnerable populations to secure and dignified housing adapted to their needs, while promoting local development and the revitalization of the neighborhoods where the intervention takes place.
• The rehabilitation of 620 housing units and 10 schools in the most affected neighborhoods, in the short term, through additional funding for the Disaster Risk Reduction project executed by Solidarités International jointly with the Lebanese and French Red Crosses. In the medium term, the rehabilitation of collective infrastructure in Bourj Hammoud, favoring accessibility, equitable access for users and risk prevention, as well as deployment and support to the Lebanese Red Cross in its approach to Community-Based Disaster Risk Management.
• Support for the economic recovery of NMSME's (Nano-, Micro-, Small- and Medium- Enterprises) in areas affected by the explosion, through a project executed by Mercy Corps.
• Support for livelihoods, through AFD's support for training and access to employment with the IECD, by providing training and the placement of technicians in urgently-needed activities, all within the framework of reconstruction.
• Reinforced support for Médecins du Monde so as to help community mental health centers in the affected area and/or to help public psychiatric services. The trauma caused by the explosion and the growing economic difficulties make mental health care all the more needed, as mental health is a major public health issue in Lebanon at present.
• Still in the health sector, AFD will support a consortium of NGO’s led by Première Urgence International to improve the access of vulnerable populations in Lebanon to quality primary health services, part of which will be devoted to centers affected by the August 4 blast.

Beyond that, AFD should soon release additional funding in the health sector.

Press Relation Manager: Nada Haddad