BEIRUT, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Michel Aoun said Friday that Lebanon needs increasing support from the international community and UN agencies to overcome its numerous emergency crises, a statement by the Presidency reported.
"This support should take place through close cooperation among the international community and the United Nations in addition to strong coordination with government agencies, and humanitarian aid to secure economic and social stability, while pushing towards achieving the desired sustainable development in order to address present problems and prepare for future requirements," Aoun said.
Aoun's remarks came during the eighth International Conference on Sustainable Development held online to discuss the repercussions of COVID-19 and means to achieve sustainable development goals in the next decade.
The president said that financial losses from the explosions are valued at 4.5 billion U.S. dollars while the cost of reconstruction is 2 billion dollars as per the World Bank.
Aoun noted that the main priorities of Lebanon is to help the most vulnerable people reconstruct about 200,000 houses damaged by the explosions, in addition to reconstructing Beirut's port which is a vital facility for the country. Enditem
