World Bank Chief Jim Yong Kim said Tuesday that the Central Bank will set a partnership plan with Lebanon, lamenting the lack of progress in the fields of energy in the country.
Yong Kim's comments were made in the Ministry of Education where he met university students, and called on the world powers "to pave the way for peace and build economic opportunities in
Syria."
World Bank chief Jim Yong Kim lauded the role of the Lebanese government in welcoming the refugees, stressing that he is currently in Lebanon to study the impact of refugees on the country. “We should work to assist the Lebanese government and people,” Kim said.
In this context, he urged ambassadors of countries who attended the meeting at the Grand Serail to contribute in order to help Lebanon confront the refugee crisis.
He also expressed his hope that the World Bank along with the International Support Group for Lebanon would reach a solution for the refugee crisis in the near future.
Earlier, Prime Minister Tammam Salam stated during a joint press conference with Yong Kim that Lebanon witnessed a decrease in its economic activity following the eruption of the Syrian crisis in 2011, stressing that the World Bank along with UN specialized agencies conducted a study on the impact of refugees on all Lebanese services. PM Salam also said that studies showed the damage rate would double if the refugees continue to stream into Lebanon.
In this regard, Salam said that Lebanon may no longer bear the burden of Syrian refugees on its own, emphasizing that bringing back Lebanon’s economic situation to where it was prior to the Syrian conflict has become an almost impossible task.
He added that the country is in dire need of effective support in order to prevent the collapse of its economic structure, which will in turn affect the country’s stability and security.
“International support aims at avoiding a crisis that could spread into the entire region,” Salam said.
He also expressed his gratitude to all countries that provided assistance to Lebanon, expressing his hope that they would continue with their generous contributions.
On another note, PM Salam pointed out that one of the biggest challenges Lebanon is facing is maintaining stability to hold the elections in accordance with the Constitution.
In this regard, Salam noted that this matter requires the unity of all Lebanese factions.
For his part, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly stated that cooperation is ongoing with the World Bank to resolve the issue, stressing that the burden on the Lebanese government is increasing with time.
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