UNOG- Bi-weekly press briefing: Lebanon blast corruption UNDP
/
2:07
/
MP4
/
157.2 MB

Edited News | UNICEF , OCHA , UNDP

UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing: Lebanon blast corruption -UNDP

Beirut blast exposed widespread corruption and accountability deficit in Lebanon, says UNDP

The explosion at the port of Beirut on the 4th of August has resulted in deep human suffering and massive destruction to the Lebanese capital, but it has also revealed a deeper and more devastating problem the country, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): widespread and systemic corruption.

“The Beirut Port explosion is not only a humanitarian crisis, but it’s also a symptom of a much deeper and more complex governance crisis that requires dialogue and collective action. And that this crisis will not be resolved without adequate attention and direct attention to the promotion of transparency, accountability and anti-corruption”, Arkan El Seblani, chief of UNDP’s Anti-Corruption & Integrity unit for Arab States, said today (Friday) at a news briefing in Geneva.

“The cost of corruption in Lebanon is equal to 5 billion dollar a year. So, putting that number in perspective, it is about 9 percent of the country’s GDP,” El Seblani said.These findings are based in a special report on anti-corruption in Lebanon published one day ago by the magazine “Executive,” published in partnership with UNDP experts.

The 2019 Corruption Perception Index ranked Lebanon 137th out of 180 countries.

“The combination of several major governance gaps are behind the improper presence of the highly explosive materials at the warehouse of the port. Who exactly is to blame for what happened? Unfortunately, we may never know,” El Seblani said. “And this, on its own, is another example of the deep accountability deficit that I referred to earlier”.

According to El-Sablani, this deficit is also likely to have an impact on response and recovery efforts, including related international assistance. “So, leakage and embezzlement of money and goods, bribes and kickbacks in reconstruction projects, as well as political co-optation of related efforts are all real and present in the context of Lebanon”, he said.

Despite these obstacles to bringing aid to the country, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that more than 180,000 people are being reached with critical, life-saving humanitarian assistance.

Some of this aid is delivered by funding non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that can reach people in need with health supplies, food assistance, and protection projects. “OCHA has begun the disbursement of US$8.5 million from the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund to provide rapid support to families that were affected by the disaster,” spokesperson Jens Laerke.

The Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF), for example, supports support five international and three local NGOs already working in Lebanon to deliver on eight projects. These include assistance to damaged primary health care centers, so that they can continue to provide essential health care, mental health support and manage the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with the provision of hot meals.

In an update on their ongoing assessments and response work in Beirut, UNICEF reported that the needs are “immense”, as many children will require urgent and sustained psychosocial support to address the trauma of the explosions.

“Half of respondents reported that children in their households were showing changes in behavior or signs of trauma or extreme stress following the explosions”,UNICEF spokesperson Marixie Mercado said. UNICEF’s needs assessment in the aftermath of the Beirut blast concluded that “these behaviours and symptoms include severe anxiety, quietness or withdrawing from parents and family, nightmares and trouble sleeping, and aggressive behaviour”, highlighting the urgent need for psychosocial support services.

  1. Exterior wide shot, Palais des Nations flag alley, nations’ flags flying, a beautiful day.
  2. SOUNDBITE (English) — Arkan El Seblani, Chief Technical Advisor, Anti-Corruption & Integrity, UNDP Regional Hub for Arab States: “The Beirut Port explosion is not only a humanitarian crisis, but it’s also a symptom of a much deeper and more complex governance crisis that requires dialogue and collective action. And that this crisis will not be resolved without adequate attention and direct attention to the promotion of transparency, accountability and anti-corruption”.
  3. Medium shot, journalists sitting in Press Room III, Palais des Nations.
  4. SOUNDBITE (English) — Arkan El Seblani, Chief Technical Advisor, Anti-Corruption & Integrity, UNDP Regional Hub for Arab States: “The cost of corruption in Lebanon is equal to 5 billion dollar a year. So, putting that number in perspective, it is about 9 percent of the country’s GDP”.
  5. Close up, spokesperson, Press Room III, Palais des Nations.
  6. SOUNDBITE (English) — Arkan El Seblani, Chief Technical Advisor, Anti-Corruption & Integrity, UNDP Regional Hub for Arab States: “The combination of several major governance gaps are behind the improper presence of the highly explosive materials at the warehouse of the port. Who exactly is to blame for what happened? Unfortunately, we may never know. And this, on its own, is another example of the deep accountability deficit that I referred to earlier”.
  7. Close-up, journalist typing on phone, Press Room III, Palais des Nations.
  8. SOUNDBITE (English) — Arkan El Seblani, Chief Technical Advisor, Anti-Corruption & Integrity, UNDP Regional Hub for Arab States: “So leakage and embezzlement of money and goods, bribes and kickbacks in reconstruction projects, as well as political co-optation of related efforts are all real and present in the context of Lebanon”.
  9. Close up, journalist working on laptop, Press Room, Palais des Nations.
  10. Soundbite (English) – Jens Laerke, Spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “OCHA has begun the disbursement of US$8.5 million from the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund to provide rapid support to families that were affected by the disaster”.
  11. Soundbite (English) – Marixie Mercado, Spokesperson for UNICEF: “In a rapid needs assessment conducted by UNICEF and partners earlier this week, half of respondents reported that children in their households were showing changes in behavior or signs of trauma or extreme stress following the explosions. These behaviours and symptoms include severe anxiety; quietness or withdrawing from parents and family, nightmares and trouble sleeping; and aggressive behaviour”.
  12. Wide shot, journalist in front of screen in Press Room III, Palais des Nations.

Similar Stories

Sudan update - WFP

1

1

1

Edited News | WFP

Sudan update - WFP ENG FRA

The very real risk of famine continues to stalk Sudan’s communities impacted by war, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday, in an appeal for more funding to support immediate needs and boost longer-term recovery across the country.

Yann Arthus-Bertrand Interview

1

1

Edited News | UNOG

Yann Arthus-Bertrand Interview ENG FRA

What can each one of us do to save the planet, asks Yann Arthus-Bertrand on World Environment Day

The last documentary film of legendary nature photographer, documentary director and environmental activist “Nature: The Call for Reconciliation” looks for an answer.

 

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on attacks around aid sites in Gaza

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on attacks around aid sites in Gaza ENG FRA

“Deadly attacks on distraught civilians trying to access the paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza, are unconscionable. For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This morning, we have received information that dozens more people were killed and injured,” Jeremy Laurence UN Human Rights spokesperson said at the biweekly press briefing in Geneva.

Gaza aid update - OCHA 30 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA

Gaza aid update - OCHA 30 May 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza ‘hungriest place on earth’ with aid stymied – UN humanitarians

Starving Gazans continue to be deprived of aid as international relief efforts are being severely constrained by the Israeli authorities, the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office OCHA said on Friday.

Gaza humanitarian update - OCHA, UNRWA

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNRWA

Gaza humanitarian update - OCHA, UNRWA ENG FRA

As a controversial United States and Israel-backed aid distribution plan gets underway in Gaza, the UN called on Tuesday for an “immediate surge” of its own pre-positioned supplies to help prevent starvation.

Uganda UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani  urges president to reject bill allowing trials of civilians in military courts

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Uganda UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani urges president to reject bill allowing trials of civilians in military courts ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani today urged Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to reject a bill that was recently endorsed by parliament allowing trials of civilians in military courts. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces Amendment Bill 2025, which was passed on 20 May and now awaits presidential signature to become law, among others broadens the jurisdiction of military courts, authorising them to try a wide range of offences against civilians.

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango: South Sudan: UN human rights chief decries escalating hostilities, arbitrary arrests and hate speech

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango: South Sudan: UN human rights chief decries escalating hostilities, arbitrary arrests and hate speech ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango today warned of a further deterioration in the human rights situation in South Sudan at the bi-weekly briefing in Geneva.

Syria humanitarian update OCHA - WHO 23 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Syria humanitarian update OCHA - WHO 23 May 2025 ENG FRA

Syria: ‘Staggering’ needs amid insecurity, health care crisis  - UN humanitarians

Millions of people in Syria continue to face mortal danger from unexploded munitions, disease and malnutrition and urgent support is required, UN humanitarians said on Friday.

Gaza health update - UNRWA - OCHA - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA , OCHA , WHO

Gaza health update - UNRWA - OCHA - WHO ENG FRA

UN life-saving aid allowed to trickle into Gaza as civilian needs mount

Amid calls for more humanitarian trucks to enter the food and medicine-deprived Palestinian enclave of Gaza, UN humanitarians have received permission from Israel for “around 100” more aid trucks to cross into the Strip after only five were let in yesterday,  But the scale of relief efforts allowed remains entirely insufficient to meet the urgent needs of people there, humanitarian workers say.

Press vests becoming a target - war reporter Christina Assi

1

1

1

Edited News

Press vests becoming a target - war reporter Christina Assi ENG FRA

A war reporter from Lebanon who lost a limb in the line of duty is calling for an end to impunity for attacks against journalists.

ITU 160th Anniversary - 17 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | ITU

ITU 160th Anniversary - 17 May 2025 ENG FRA

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) commemorated 160 years dedicated to connecting the world on Saturday, 17 May in Geneva, Switzerland, during the annual World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.

Gaza humanitarian update – WHO, OCHA 16 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , OCHA

Gaza humanitarian update – WHO, OCHA 16 May 2025 ENG FRA

Gazans ‘in terror’ after another night of deadly strikes and siege

Amid reports that Israeli strikes across Gaza into Friday killed at least 64 people, aid teams once again pushed back strongly at allegations that aid is being diverted to Hamas and pleaded for the blockade to end.