Mon 10 August 2020:
US President Donald Trump has pledged that his administration will give “substantial” aid to Lebanon, but did not provide details.
Meanwhile Nine members of parliament and two ministers have so far resigned from their position in Lebanon, according to an Al Jazeera tally.
Manal Abdel Samad, the information minister, and Damianos Kattar, the environment minister, resigned their posts on Sunday as the government comes under heavy pressure following the explosion on Tuesday.
So far, 9 MPs & 2 ministers resigned since #Beirut blasts, #Lebanon
MPs:
Marwan Hamadeh
Paula Yaacoubian
Nadim Gemayel
Samy Gemayel
Elias Hankash
Neemat Ephrem
Michel Moawad
Dima Jamali
Henry HelouMinisters:
Manal Abdel Samad, information
Damianos Kattar, Environment— Saad (@SaadAbedine) August 9, 2020
Beirut governor says many bodies still unidentified
Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud has said several foreign workers and truck drivers remain missing following the explosion and are assumed to be dead.
In an interview with Al Jadeed TV station, Abboud added that many of the fatalities are still unidentified, and that it could take time to complete the identification of the remains.
IMF chief renews call for reforms
Kristalina Georgieva, the head of the International Monetary Fund, warned Lebanon again it would not get any loans from the institution unless it reformed its government.
“Current and future generations of Lebanese must not be saddled with more debts than they can ever repay,” she said during the pledging conference.
That is why, she said, the IMF requires “debt sustainability as a condition for lending”, adding that “the financial system must be solvent,” too.
Iran says Beirut blast should not be politicised
Iran said countries should refrain from politicising the massive blast in Beirut last week, adding that the United States should lift sanctions against Lebanon.
“The blast should not be used as an excuse for political aims … the cause of the blast should be investigated carefully,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi told a televised news conference.
“If America is honest about its assistance offer to Lebanon, they should lift sanctions.”
