The UN Special Coordinator warned the Security Council behind closed doors on Thursday, that Lebanon stands at “a crossroad between rebound or collapse” due to the prolonged socio-economic crisis.
UN Special Coordinator, Joanna Wronecka, urged leaders to urgently act to end the deadlock and economic paralysis. She stressed that significant reforms to state institutions are immediately necessary.
There have been countless domestic and international pleas for the Lebanese officials to agree on a new government formation so a plan for reforms could be quickly implemented to save the country.
However, forming a new government has materialized more complicated than necessary, considering the involved consequences.
Needed Reforms
The UN Special Convey underscored that the current presidential mandate expires on October 30th and pressed for presidential elections to be held within the constitutionally stipulated timeline.
Wronecka also emphasized the importance of reaching an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and donor countries, to access the funds from the $3 billion deal struck in April.
An agreement which, too, has been in a gridlock, largely due to opposition from the banking sector, in addition to the inability to enact reforms.
Water Shortage
Water supply systems remain on the brink amidst the crisis, according to a new report issued by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Thursday.
“While a total collapse of public water supply networks has so far been averted, the crisis has not been resolved and millions of people are affected by the limited availability of clean and safe water,” said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon.
As tap water is unsafe, many Lebanese rely on private water delivery, however, prices have risen astronomically amidst the economic crisis. Water trucks charge around $96 for 1,000 liters today, six times higher than in 2019, the UN reports.
Related:
UNICEF: Lebanon’s Water Infrastructure Is Struggling, Millions Of People At Risk.
Lebanon’s Government Formation Still On Hold, Here’s What We Know.
