Qatar announced on Thursday the granting of $60 million in aid to the Lebanese army, as part of its support for the land of cedars devastated by the worst economic crisis in its history. Qatar’s decision was announced by the Qatari Foreign Minister on the sidelines of an Arab League meeting in Beirut.
With our correspondent in Beirut, Paul Khalifeh
The unprecedented economic and financial crisis that has hit Lebanon for nearly three years has not spared the Lebanese army, which is struggling to feed its soldiers and pay their salaries. The average salary of a soldier went from the equivalent of 800 dollars to 100 dollars, which caused a phenomenon of desertions or early departures among both soldiers and officers.
For a year, the military institution, considered the last bastion preventing Lebanon from sinking into civil war, has survived only thanks to the aid granted by friendly countries. The United States and its European and Arab allies regularly provide spare parts, ammunition and food rations, to prevent the collapse of the army.
But this is the first time that a foreign country has granted financial aid to allow the Lebanese army to pay the salaries of its soldiers.
Political leaders granted the army chief, General Joseph Aoun, special powers allowing him to conclude direct agreements with armies or friendly countries. Usually, accepting aid or any such arrangement requires government approval, which can take weeks or even months. However, given the urgency, the deadlines were shortened and the decision-making circuits lightened.