We have shown that we are capable of the task, said a pleased Jean-Noël Barrot, French Foreign Minister and host of the conference.
But we cannot be satisfied with supporting humanitarianly and in terms of security, we must achieve a diplomatic solution, he continued.
Military Support
$800 million is earmarked for humanitarian support and $200 million will go to supporting Lebanon's military. Lebanon's national army will play a crucial role if a ceasefire can be reached between Israel and Hezbollah.
France is supporting with €100 million – equivalent to 1.1 billion kronor.
Germany is contributing almost as much. The pledges come during today's international support conference for Lebanon in France's capital Paris.
The Lebanese population needs immediate massive support, both for the hundreds of thousands who have been forced to flee the war and for the communities that host them, said French President Emmanuel Macron and simultaneously called for an immediate ceasefire.
Macron also promised to contribute equipment to Lebanon's regular army.
Long Economic Crisis
The war between Israel and the militia movement Hezbollah in Lebanon has forced around one million Lebanese to leave their homes. Israel is attacking Hezbollah targets daily and has, according to the UN, ordered evacuations for around a quarter of the country. More than 2,500 have been killed and the economic crisis that has long plagued the country has worsened.
The French organizers of the support conference had hoped for pledges of contributions equivalent to 4.5 billion kronor – which more than doubled during the conference.
France has historically strong ties with Lebanon, which was a French so-called protectorate until independence in 1943.
