Beirut explosion: Donors pledge aid for Lebanon but want reform
International donors have pledged a quarter of a billion euros in aid for Lebanon five days after the explosion which devastated a swathe of Beirut.
But an online donor summit arranged by France called at the same time for reforms to be made.
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The blast at a warehouse holding over 2,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate has focused local outrage on perceived government corruption and incompetence.
Clashes have broken out for a second day running in Beirut.
Young people calling for the government to quit threw projectiles at police and shops in central Beirut, and protesters attempted to storm barricades barring access to the parliament building. A fire broke out at the scene.
Police in riot gear used tear gas as darkness fell, echoing similar scenes during protests on Saturday.
Fifteen government leaders at the donor summit, spearheaded by French President Emmanuel Macron, promised "major resources", according to a statement.
"Assistance should be timely, sufficient and consistent with the needs of the Lebanese people," it said, adding that help must be "directly delivered to the Lebanese population, with utmost efficiency and transparency".
The donors were prepared to help Lebanon's longer term recovery if the government listened to the changes demanded by the country's citizens, the communique said.
President Macron's office said France had received pledges worth €252.7m ($297m, £227m) from the summit.
Officials estimate the explosion caused up to $15 billion (£11.5bn) of damage.
It left at least 158 people dead, 6,000 injured and 300,000 homeless. It emerged that the ammonium nitrate had been left at the port warehouse for six years despite repeated warnings it was dangerous.
Police in riot gear used tear gas as darkness fell, echoing similar scenes during protests on Saturday.
Fifteen government leaders at the donor summit, spearheaded by French President Emmanuel Macron, promised "major resources", according to a statement.
"Assistance should be timely, sufficient and consistent with the needs of the Lebanese people," it said, adding that help must be "directly delivered to the Lebanese population, with utmost efficiency and transparency".
The donors were prepared to help Lebanon's longer term recovery if the government listened to the changes demanded by the country's citizens, the communique said.
President Macron's office said France had received pledges worth €252.7m ($297m, £227m) from the summit.
Officials estimate the explosion caused up to $15 billion (£11.5bn) of damage.
It left at least 158 people dead, 6,000 injured and 300,000 homeless. It emerged that the ammonium nitrate had been left at the port warehouse for six years despite repeated warnings it was dangerous.
Who pledged what?
Among promises made during the summit were:
- European Union - extra €30m ($35m, £27m), on top of €33m promised earlier
- UK - additional £20m; £5m aid package announced earlier this week
- Germany - €10m; €1.5m earlier
- France - reconstruction material, medical and food aid
- Spain - to send wheat, shelters, medical supplies
- Switzerland - $4.38m
- US - $15m so far
- Qatar - $50m
- Kuwait - $40m
- Denmark - €20m
- Norway - €6.5m
The United Nations has said more than $100m (£76m) is needed for both emergency humanitarian aid, such as food and water, and the rebuilding of infrastructure, including hospitals and schools.
The summit took place online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
President Macron, speaking from his summer residence in southern France, called for "an impartial, credible and independent inquiry" into how the disaster was allowed to happen.
France is the former colonial power, and Mr Macron was the first world leader to visit Beirut in the days after the blast.
But Lebanese President Michel Aoun has already ruled out an international investigation.