The Secretary-General participated in Beirut with the launch of the Flash Appeal of 308.3 million US dollars.

My visit to Lebanon in this Holy Month of Ramadan and also when the Christians are living the Lent is to say that moments like these, both Ramadan and Lent, appeal to peace, appeal to end the horrible suffering of the Lebanese people. I am a great admirer of the Lebanese people. When I was High Commissioner for Refugees, I saw the generosity of the Lebanese receiving so many Syrians, so many Palestinians and today, it really breaks my heart to…

It’s in difficult moments that friendship and solidarity are essential. And I’m here as a friend of the Lebanese people in full solidarity with the Lebanese people. I know that the Lebanese are suffering enormously. I know that Muslim Lebanese are living Ramadan. Christian Lebanese are living Lent. And these should be moments of peace, these should be moments of solidarity. Unfortunately, Lebanon was dragged into a war that is not a war that its…

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert began today an official visit to Israel. She is scheduled to meet with senior Israeli officials for discussions amidst escalating hostilities. The urgent need for a recommitment to the full implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) will be central to her engagements.

Last week, Lebanon was in relatively good shape. Its armed forces were supporting the steady advancement of state authority. Preparations for legislative elections were in full swing. Long-awaited reform was underway. A World Bank loan was poised to kick-start reconstruction. And, warming relations between Lebanon and Syria were opening new areas for bilateral cooperation. Of course, things were not perfect. Far from it. Persistent air strikes…

The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, undertook intensive diplomatic engagements following the launch of rockets from Lebanese territory in the early hours of Monday morning. The resumption of hostilities has entailed extensive strikes by Israel in southern Lebanon, the Biqa’ and Beirut’s southern suburbs, as well as consistent drone and rocket attacks by Hizbullah on northern Israel. She continues to…