British ambassador Ian Collard visited on Tuesday two of the 43 businesses that are supported by the UK following the Beirut Blast. He was accompanied by Lucy Andrews, the British Embassy’s Development and Humanitarian Director.
The projects endorsed by the UK government were being funded as a response plan to the Beirut Port explosion that took place on August 4, 2020.
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), partial damage was inflicted on 86% of businesses located within a 5-kilometer radius, while 35% of businesses within the same radius claimed to be completely destructed.
“This funding has helped to restore livelihoods by supporting the recovery of Micro and Small Enterprises affected by the explosion, including through cash grants and business development support. This project secured the retention of more than 300 jobs and is supporting plans to hire an additional 100 employees,” the British embassy said in a statement.
Through the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan Framework, the UK has been offering support via the Lebanon Host Communities Support Programme (LHSP), a program run by UNDP, in collaboration with the Lebanese Ministry of social affairs and Berytech.
The British government was amongst the earliest contributors to aid Lebanon after the devastating Port Explosion with $22 million spent on relief plans. Ultimately, the UK is working on providing adequate equipment to facilitate the transfer of grains.
Furthermore, according to the statement, the UK has been “one of LHSP’s primary supporters, providing $94 million since 2014 for host communities and vulnerable refugees across Lebanon, delivering better public services and infrastructure to over 2220 municipalities and over 1 million beneficiaries”.
In his statement, Collard renewed the call of his government for a fair and transparent investigation of the Beirut Blast, proper accountability, and a successful conclusion.
“This is the only way to bring closure to the victims, their families, and the people of Lebanon,” the British ambassador stressed.
