The recent deadly attacks and counterattacks on the Lebanon-Israel border, eight months after Hamas’s October 7 attack, are reaching a new level of intensity. Lebanon continues to suffer from compounding and interlinked political, economic, and social crises and can ill-afford the devastation that would accompany war with Israel.
We decry the recent provocations and call for restraint on all sides. We are further concerned about Israel’s continued use, in violation of international humanitarian law, of phosphorous bombs in South Lebanon that are causing potentially irreversible damage to the environment and agriculture, making these areas uninhabitable and impeding the livelihoods of its citizens. Over 90,000 of them have been forced to flee the region since the beginning of the Gaza war.
We urge all parties to take every step possible to end hostilities, protect civilians who are at risk as the conflict expands, and find a sustainable agreement that brings long-term stability to the Israel-Lebanon border.
Washington, DC, December 29, 2020 (ATFL) – In the closing session before the holiday recess, the US Senate unanimously passed S.Res.682, “Recognizing the devastating explosion that rocked the Port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, and expressing solidarity with the Lebanese people.” The resolution was introduced by Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on behalf of Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), Chairman of the Committee, Chris Murphy (D-CT), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Rob Portman (R-OH), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Mark Warner (D-VA).
After noting the devastation caused by the blast, the Resolution states that the “protracted political crisis in Lebanon” has led to negative consequences to the economy and “one of the highest rates of public debt, food insecurity, and hyperinflation.” It also points out that “the people of Lebanon across the political spectrum have renewed demands for a meaningful change in Lebanon’s political leadership, government accountability, and transparency.”
The ATFL is especially thankful to the sponsors and all members of the Senate for this strong endorsement of support for the Lebanese people, which affirms US Government efforts to provide “emergency humanitarian relief in concert with other governments and international partners.” The ATFL endorses calling on the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to deliver assistance “directly to the Lebanese people through properly vetted channels, organizations, and individuals.”
ATFL President Ed Gabriel said, “ATFL is pleased to have worked closely with the Senate on this resolution, and I encourage Senate members to revisit the 2021 budget allocation of $112.5 million in economic assistance and work with their House counterparts to double the funding available for the reconstruction and rehabilitation needs of the country, again, through civil society and local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). There is no better way for the US to demonstrate its commitment to Lebanon’s independence and stability than to increase humanitarian and development assistance over the next three years.”
The Resolution also calls on the government of Lebanon “to conduct a credible, impartial, and transparent investigation into the cause of, and responsibility for, the explosion, and include impartial international experts as part of the investigation,” as well as to determine the root causes of “instability and mismanagement” in the country.
Finally, the Resolution “calls on the Government of Lebanon to restore faith and confidence by prioritizing policies and programs that advance the interests of the people of Lebanon.”
Gabriel remarked that as the Resolution supports increased US Government efforts for Lebanon, the ATFL will continue to work with the House to introduce a similar resolution in January and push for its approval, and work to increase humanitarian assistance as quickly as possible in the FY22 budget.
Washington, DC, October 5, 2020 (ATFL) – In an effort led by Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL), and co-sponsored by Reps. Donna Shalala (D-FL), Steve Stivers (R-OH), and Garrett Graves (R-LA), the House Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously passed H.Res.1077, a bipartisan resolution [that] “expresses the sense of Congress for the support of the ongoing US – Lebanon relationship. Specifically, the resolution supports US goals for combatting government corruption, executing needed structural reforms, and the important role of the Lebanese Armed Forces. The resolution opposes the growing influence and role of Hezbollah in Lebanon, particularly as the country works to respond and recover from the August 4th explosion.”
ATFL President Ed Gabriel remarked that “With the continuing economic and political crisis in Lebanon, compounded by the re-emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic after the disastrous explosions at the Port of Beirut, this resolution means a great deal to the Lebanese people who have historically counted on the US as one of their closest friends. We want to express our thanks to Congressman LaHood and the co-signers for making clear how important the relationship continues to be. We urge the full House of Representatives to approve this Resolution during the lame duck session in December.”
As Rep. LaHood remarked in his press release, “Now more than ever, American support for the Lebanese people is vital. My resolution reaffirms our country’s commitment to the people of Lebanon and to peace in the region. A strong, independent, and sovereign Lebanon can help provide stability in the Middle East, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to support a productive and sustainable U.S.-Lebanon relationship.”
Specifically, the Resolution expresses concern for the people of Lebanon and the need to continue support for humanitarian assistance from the US and the international community. It reaffirms support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) as the key institution for preventing Hezbollah from gaining greater influence in the country. It also calls for an unobstructed role for the UN Interim Forces in Lebanon in maintaining security along the Israel-Lebanon boundary, and states its strong concern that the government must take actions to combat corruption, restore public services, and “expresses support for the continuation of democracy and democratic ideals in Lebanon.”
Through the efforts of Direct Relief, FedEx, Anera, and the Ghassan and Manal Saab Foundation, the American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) coordinated an airlift of some $12.7 worth of medicines and supplies to Beirut in August. Preparations for a second flight, however, were delayed until Sam Mraiche, President and CEO of MHCare in Canada generously offered to provide a cargo plane through his ties with Cargojet from Hamilton, Ontario to Istanbul, Turkey. The team was able to secure the support of Middle East Airlines (MEA) to arrange the final leg by adding passenger flights between Istanbul and Beirut to transship the medical supplies.
Mraiche had already delivered two relief flights direct to Beirut but faced similar clearance challenges in securing a permit for his third flight. Through his vast network he was able to connect the various groups necessary to move this product across four countries to get it to the final destination. Meanwhile, Emirates Air agreed to carry small shipments of urgently needed cancer meds and medical supplies on their passenger jets from several US cities.
Pallets of medical relief destined for Lebanon.
Pallets are offloaded in Beirut.
FedEx, which provided air transport for the first Lebanon Relief Project airlift on August 24, again stepped into the gap and arranged for its trucks to carry supplies gathered by the Afya Foundation from warehouses in New York to Canada. Afya has been receiving large quantities of donated supplies, storing, and coordinating shipping and logistics to ensure those supplies reach Beirut efficiently and effectively through air and sea freight. Once in Beirut, the supplies are managed by Anera, which offloads the shipments, clears customs, and distributes the various earmarked materials to Beirut hospitals of the nearly $6 million worth of medications from Direct Relief via Emirates Air, or by Afya Foundation for the Cargojet shipment.
The Lebanon Relief Project depends on an extensive network of volunteers to gather and prepare the desperately needed medicines and supplies. Principal among those is Manal Saab, a long-time board member of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, who remarked, “There are many hearts suffering for Lebanon and we are all in this together. Thanks to the leadership of ATFL, Rashal Baz Zureikat founder of Lebanon Relief Project, and the Afya Foundation, along with the ongoing generosity of FedEx, we were able to transcend borders across three countries and extend our healing hands to Beirut hospitals.”
ATFL President Edward Gabriel added, “This effort represents the love that we overseas Lebanese in the US and Canada have for that special country. We are grateful for the volunteers and companies that joined in this humanitarian effort which will continue for quite some time. The Project relies on creative and hard-working people in our community to make this work despite the many challenges that are encountered. We are indebted to those volunteers here and in Lebanon that are vital to the successful impact of the program.”
This release has been updated to reflect the arrival of the first airlift and to provide an updated link to the Lebanon Relief website.
A coalition of Lebanese Americans coordinated by the American Task Force on Lebanon has organized an airlift of badly needed medicines, supplies, and equipment from the American people to the Lebanese people in the aftermath of the explosions at the Beirut port. The first plane arrived today, Monday, August 24.
Pallets of medical aid are staged in Direct Relief’s warehouse on August 17, 2020. Photo: Direct Relief
Nearly 100 tons of essential medicines and supplies has arrived today in Beirut. The shipment is a people-to-people exchange, a gift from the American people to the Lebanese. It is destined for the hospitals, critical care centers, and care providers attending to the communities in Beirut who were most affected by the shocking explosions of August 4. The shipment contains requested essential medicines and personal protective equipment worth in excess of $13 million which will help relieve the strain on Beirut’s health care facilities. This shipment includes 131 pallets of high-value medicines donated by Direct Relief as well as 96 pallets from other sources. It will arrive on a plane donated by FedEx.
This relief effort has been coordinated by the American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) in response to a request from the US State Department. A team of key nonprofits specializing in disaster relief and humanitarian assistance are mobilized in a campaign to collect these badly needed items and shepherd them to Lebanon. The organizations involved in the coordinated effort include Direct Relief, Anera, the Ghassan and Manal Saab Foundation, the Afya Foundation, and the Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP). Today’s is the first of several shipments by air and by sea to support Beirut’s hospitals with critical supplies.
Anera, which has a strong ground operation in Lebanon, is working with US Embassy Beirut to offload the shipments, clear customs, and distribute the earmarked materials. Rafik Hariri University Hospital’s warehouse will serve as a distribution center securing our “people to people” exchange from the Americans to the Lebanese. Direct Relief, based in Santa Barbara, CA, and the Afya Foundation in Yonkers, NY, are the logistics providers that prepared, packaged, and documented the shipments.
Our campaign will continue as we work with our members and the Lebanese American community in a massive mobilization of supplies and donations. Principal among those volunteering to coordinate this effort is Manal Saab, a long-time board member of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital who remarked, “The outpouring of aid and help originating from our fellow Lebanese American citizens has been nothing short of spectacular. There are many hearts suffering for Lebanon and we are all in this together. We will continue this effort as long as there is a need in Lebanon.”
The response to ATFL’s campaign has been tremendous, with pallets of medical supplies and medicines ready to fill the additional shipments. ATFL President Edward Gabriel said, “This effort represents the love that we Lebanese Americans and those who care about Lebanon have for that special country. Ms. Manal Saab has been instrumental in facilitating this campaign and we are grateful for her partnership. We also want to thank the Clinton Foundation and Rep. Donna Shalala for their key support early in the campaign.”
Today’s shipment will be distributed to the following four hospitals, which are heavily involved in the response to the explosions. These hospitals will be sharing with other facilities and care centers in need:American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC)Lebanese American University Medical Center (LAUMC)Hotel Dieu de FranceRafik Hariri University Hospital (RHUH)
Washington, DC, August 14, 2020 (ATFL) – The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) is concerned by reports of injuries sustained by demonstrators in Beirut during clashes with Lebanese security forces. We note that Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander Joseph Aoun reiterated his commitment that the military will protect the rights of law-abiding citizens to peacefully demonstrate.
In light of recent legislation granting broad powers under a state of emergency to the army, the ATFL reiterates its long-standing call for the LAF to act in the best interests of the country by showing good judgement in the exercise of these powers. The ATFL is also concerned that civilians not be tried in military courts under the emergency decree without transparency, due process, and representation for the accused.
In these most challenging times, we believe that all stakeholders in the future of Lebanon must immediately begin serious national dialogues on how to repair the extensive damage caused by the blast, initiate desperately-needed economic reforms, and gradually create a new political foundation for the country, free from corruption and sectarianism. This starts with protecting basic freedoms, including freedom of assembly and expression. ATFL strongly supports the human and civil rights of the Lebanese people to call for leadership and policies that respond to the peoples’ needs.
Washington, DC, August 11, 2020 (ATFL) – The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL), a leadership organization of Americans of Lebanese ancestry, notes the decision of the Diab government to resign and its call for early elections. In light of the economic, political, and social crises that have been eroding the quality of life for the Lebanese people and the hundreds of thousands of refugees residing in the country, the devastation of Beirut has only magnified the mismanagement and corruption of the political leadership over the past 30 years.
There is no easy solution for Lebanon’s recovery. It will take a unified effort of the Lebanese people, its civil society, and public and private stakeholders to develop a national consensus on Lebanon’s future. Lebanon does not lack the talent or the capacity for renewal. We strongly support the capacity of the Lebanese to recover from these multiple disasters and lead their county to a new future.
Washington, DC, August 5, 2020 (ATFL) – The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL), a leadership organization of Americans of Lebanese ancestry working to support strong ties between the United States and Lebanon expresses its profound sadness for the loss of life and extensive property damage caused by explosions at the Port of Beirut on Tuesday, August 4.
The ATFL is in constant communication with US government agencies and members of Congress to facilitate the provision of needed food, medicines, emergency supplies, and other materials needed to deal with the aftermath of this horrific event. Lebanon also needs help in clearing debris, removal of dangerous materials in the Port of Beirut facilities, and other steps to re-open the Port so that services can be restored as soon as possible.
In our exchanges with the State Department, Under Secretary for Political Affairs David Hale said in a statement to ATFL: “Secretary Pompeo announced last night that America stood ready to assist the Lebanese people as they recover from this horrible tragedy. Our teams have worked through the night to identify the most effective means to respond. We are not yet ready to make an announcement, but rest assured America will be at the forefront among the friends of Lebanon. Secretary Pompeo and many of us who have served in Lebanon hold the country and its people dear, and we will stand by the Lebanese at this time of dire need.” Under Secretary Hale previously served as US Ambassador to Lebanon.
ATFL is working in collaboration with other US-based organizations to advocate for US humanitarian and economic relief for the country. Edward Gabriel, President and CEO noted that “In the wake of the enormous blasts at the Port of Beirut resulting in more than a hundred dead and thousands injured, the US and the international community must move immediately to provide needed humanitarian relief and assistance to deal with the dangerous situation in a country already reeling from economic and political crises.”
Individuals should please consider donating to the below organizations, which are already assisting in the immediate aftermath of this tragedy:
Washington, DC, August 4, 2020 (ATFL) – During the past several months, the American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL), a leadership organization of Americans of Lebanese heritage who support a strong bilateral relationship between the United States and Lebanon, have been meeting virtually with prominent leaders in the US and Lebanon to better assess and understand the dynamics of the current situation and options for US policy.
In addition to numerous meetings with officials of the US Administration and Congress, the ATFL met virtually with the Lebanese prime minister, several cabinet ministers, the head of the Central Bank, and the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). In the private sector, ATFL reached out to key NGOs, business leaders, and the bankers association. These meetings helped inform the joint ATFL- Middle East Institute facilitated report released on July 14, 2020, Recommendations for a Sustainable Bilateral Relationship, which will be updated over the next several months with the latest developments.
Following these discussions, ATFL President Edward Gabriel said, “There is an urgent need for the Lebanese to come to a consensus on how to restore durability, credibility, and sustainability to the country. Meaningful reforms that restore confidence in the economy will enable the government and society to address Lebanon’s desperate social and humanitarian conditions that are driving an anxious population deeper into poverty.”
Lebanon must act now to curb its mounting economic, social, and humanitarian problems. Time is quickly running out.
This joint ATFL-Middle East Institute policy paper sets forth reasons why it is in the US interest, partnering with its international allies, to strongly encourage Lebanon to reform, rebuild, and prosper as an independent, stable, and functioning country.
