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United States Affirms Support for Siniora Government as Plans for Lebanon Recovery and Reconstruction Get Under Way
Tobias announces projects at Stockholm Conference, calls for support from other donors
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2006
Press Office: 202-712-4320
Public Information: 202-712-4810
www.usaid.gov
Stockholm, Sweden — At a donors conference on Lebanon’s Early Relief, the United States today announced six key projects that will assist the Siniora Government as it works to meet the needs of its people. Led by Ambassador Randall L. Tobias, Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance and USAID Administrator, the U.S. delegation elaborated on the $230 million commitment announced by President Bush last week.
“The pledges we are making here today — including our own $230 million commitment—must be more than numbers,” said Tobias. “We, as donors, must continue to work with the Government of Lebanon to identify ways we can support its priorities. And, once identified, we must move to disburse funds in order that our good intentions quickly translate to action on the ground.”
The six projects announced today address many of the pressing issues prioritized by the Government of Lebanon in its early recovery plan—such as infrastructure repair, shelter, and livelihoods. The projects are:
- Restoration of the Fidar Bridge in Jbeil — The United States will rebuild this vital link in Lebanon’s coastal highway that is considered a lynchpin in the movement of traffic for commuters, industry, and tourism. This bridge is essential in the movement of emergency cargo shipments between the ports of Tripoli and Beirut, and a nerve center for the transportation and shipping industries, as well as an important connector for several roadways linking north Lebanon to the most heavily impacted areas in the South. View a map of the Fidar Bridge (pdf,3.8mb)
- Debris Removal and Repairs on the Marjeyoun to Nabatyeh Road in the South — With support from the American people, the United States Government is helping local citizens remove debris from roads, paving the way to recovery and providing an injection of cash into the local economy through cash-for-work programs that benefit thousands.
- Home Repairs Throughout Lebanon — From Tyre to Tripoli, the United States is assisting thousands of people whose homes were damaged during the conflict, with tens of thousands of additional families slated to receive assistance in the coming months. For the elderly, infirm, or wounded among them, we are procuring materials and hiring local workers to make necessary repairs. For families whose homes were severely damaged, we are providing a warm, dry room, with a kitchen and toilet while they complete permanent repairs.
- School Cleanup and Restoration — The United States is helping Lebanon ready schools for the coming school year. In Marjeyoun, for instance, we are helping remove debris, repair structural damage, and clean up schools in El Khiam and Andaisse. Similar efforts are under way in Baalbek, Hasbaya, Sidon, Tyre, and Beirut. In the South, schools receiving support include the Lebaa School and the Saydoun School.
- Assistance to Lebanese Fishermen — In communities that rely on the fishing industry, the conflict took a heavy toll. Today, the United States is providing livelihood kits including nets, hooks, and other materials to thousands of fishermen whose equipment was damaged or destroyed along the coastline, where recovery hinges on getting the fishing industry back up and running.
- Cleaning Up Beaches Vital to Tourism — With U.S. assistance, local fishermen are also helping clean up the oil spill. Through cash-for-work programs, these fishermen are not only receiving income to meet immediate needs, but are supporting shore-based cleanup in Beirut (at the Port of Raouche) and Batroun. Cleanup of the oil spill is vital to getting Lebanon’s tourism industry back on its feet.
Tobias closed by urging other donors and the international community to support Lebanon’s plans for recovery and reconstruction.
“A democratic, secure, and prosperous Lebanon is in the best interest of the entire global community. Indeed, it is our best defense against the recurrence of instability and war,” said Tobias. “The United States dedicates itself to this outcome and asks that the other participants in this conference do so as well.”
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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