Intervention by Sigrid Kaag at the International Conference of Support and Assistance to Beirut

Intervention by Sigrid Kaag, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, at the International Conference of Support and Assistance to Beirut (9 August 2020)

'At the outset, let me thank President Macron and the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations for organizing this conference in the aftermath of Tuesday’s terrible tragedy.

On behalf of the Dutch government, I would like to offer our deepest condolences to the people of Lebanon. We are with you in this moment of tremendous loss and pain. We also shared in this pain through the death of Dutch foreign service staff member and wife of our ambassador in Beirut, Mme Hedwig Waltmans-Molier.

Once again, faced with calamity, the Lebanese people have been exemplary in their acts of solidarity.  

From our side, as a long-standing humanitarian and development partner to Lebanon, I am pleased to confirm additional support.

With regard to the short term: last Wednesday, the Netherlands deployed an Urban Search and Rescue Team and contributed 1 million additional euros to the Lebanese Red Cross. I have also just approved an additional 3 million euros worth of emergency support.  

Furthermore, in order to prevent food shortages and further human suffering, port capacity must be restored at the earliest moment. Together with the World Bank, we stand ready to do our part – including by bringing to bear the world-class expertise of the port of Rotterdam.

That expertise is also on offer for more long-term reconstruction with regard to port capacity. And this brings me to the work that awaits in the immediate aftermath of the relief effort.

In this context, as has been underlined by many speakers before me, the political and economic agenda of reform is long overdue. In order to restore trust in Lebanon’s system of governance, the people’s legitimate demands for transparency, accountability and the fight against corruption must be heeded now – this also remains a precondition for substantial additional donor support.

An independent judicial investigation into the cause of the disaster is also called for and we fully support this. Here too, the Netherlands stands ready to provide appropriate technical independent assistance.

Subsequently, many other steps, which have long been outlined and traced out, have to be taken to establish a new social contract between the government and its citizens. Let’s truly start on this journey today. Lebanon has long been a regional public good, in its culture, its diversity and its society. The long-suffering people of Lebanon deserve our full support. Thank you.'