Austria offers financial aid to reconstruct Beirut port

Austria has offered to contribute to the reconstruction of Beirut port alongside other European Union members.

The announcement was made by the Lebanon’s Presidency on 14 July.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer had previously met with Lebanese President Michel Aoun to discuss cooperation between the two countries, and submitted the offer.

READ: Lebanon launches auction for Beirut port reconstruction

“The port is very important, especially in light of the current food crisis; we have looked with Lebanese authorities into ways to cooperate in this regard,” Nehammer said.

Nehammer added he hoped that a new Lebanese Government would quickly form quickly so Austria could extend its ties with the country and provide necessary assistance in the port reconstruction – and food support in light of the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

President Aoun said that Lebanon welcomes Austria’s contribution to the port reconstruction while reiterating the country’s commitment to protecting the oil and gas wealth in the Exclusive Economic Zone in southern Lebanon.

He later thanked Austria for its participation in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and its various donations to help Lebanon combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The UN also agreed to a $10 million grant to help Lebanon mitigate the crisis.

Just recently, families of the victims of Beirut port’s blast filed a $250 million lawsuit against an American-Norwegian firm suspected of bringing explosive materials to the port.

Accountability Now, a Swiss organisation supporting Lebanese civil society seeking justice, announced that the lawsuit was filed on 11 July.

More than 200 people died and 4,000 were injured following the explosion in Beirut on 4 August 2020.

Source: https://www.porttechnology.org/news/austria-offers-financial-aid-to-reconstruct-beirut-port/