US State Department spokesperson Ned Price described the humanitarian conditions in Lebanon as “dire” due to mismanagement and corruption.

 

He affirmed that the US is working with the international community, on an urgent basis, to alleviate the suffering of the Lebanese people.

 

Speaking to reporters, Price said that “the people of Lebanon have suffered for far too long from mismanagement, from corruption, from inflation, from other economic pressures that the international community, on an urgent basis, has sought to alleviate.”

 

“As you know, the Secretary had an opportunity to meet with the prime minister. We had an opportunity to meet with his Emirati counterpart, with his Saudi counterpart. Lebanon was a topic of discussion.

 

He also highlighted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's talks with Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati, UAE's FM Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan to underscore the needs of the Lebanese people, the need for channels of communication to remain open, "as we look for ways to alleviate the suffering of the people of Lebanon."

 

Price stressed that the US is not intervening in the Government of Lebanon.

 

“What we are doing is using appropriate resources to help the people of Lebanon, to see to it that we can work with the international community to provide the people of Lebanon with much-needed humanitarian relief."

 

“The Lebanese Armed Forces is an important actor in Lebanese society”, he added, noting: “I think there would be a desire to see all actors set aside their parochial agendas and to focus on the urgent needs of the people of Lebanon.”

 

Price reiterated calls for keeping the channels “open” between Lebanon and the Gulf for the sake of enhancing the humanitarian situation.

 

“Our point has been that we urge diplomatic channels to remain open between the parties to ensure meaningful dialogue on the pressing issues facing Lebanon,” he stated.

 

When asked about the calls for the resignation of Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi, Price refrained from taking a stance on the matter.