The U.S. and other countries have shipped emergency food and medical supplies to Beirut in the wake of the blast earlier this month that razed much of Beirut’s downtown, but officials in Washington are adamant about using alternative channels for further aid to ensure its contributions aren’t used by the group.
U.S. officials are particularly concerned that Hezbollah’s expansive role in a government that is plagued by corruption would mean the Iran-backed group would benefit from humanitarian supplies and financing funded by American taxpayers. Of the $18 million in aid the U.S. has already committed, the Department of Defense delivered food and medical packages to the Lebanese army, while assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development is going through nongovernmental organizations.
Ms. Jhunjhunwala said USAID’s assistance is being directed through the United Nations’ World Food Program and delivery of medical supplies through the American University of Beirut, the Lebanese Red Cross and Lebanese American University hospitals. That aid is especially important to help balance out sanctions the administration is considering levying in an attempt to spur long-needed policy reforms.
“It is sadly telling that there is little to no faith in providing assistance directly to the Lebanese government due to its rampant corruption,” the senators wrote in a letter to the State Department and USAID.
🤣🤣🤣 When has the US ever told the truth?
So the fed's going to start buying Lebanese corporate bonds.
SAD !
It is amazing in this day and age we can't identify certain projects and hire a non-profit to execute against it. We can do anything except directly help people for some reason.