Dr Murrison met with President Michel Aoun, Speaker of
Parliament Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Saad Hariri,
Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, MP’s and senior
business leaders. VIP also visited UK aid funded
projects up and down the country supporting Lebanese
host communities, with a focus on economy, education,
demining, refugees and the Lebanese Armed Forces.
In the Bekaa, Minister Murrison visited an Informal
Tented Settlement and saw how tech solutions (Iris
scanning) are used to ensure UK aid only goes to those
who need it the most to meet their most basic survival
needs. He also met Syrian refugee families and heard
from them about their living conditions and challenges
they face in Lebanon, including how they view the
prospect of returning to Syria.
In Tripoli, Minister Murrison met with host communities
to see the positive impact UK aid is having on people’s
lives through the Lebanese Host Communities Support
Programme (LHSP) in partnership with the Ministry of
Social Affairs and UNDP. He announced a new $39 million
to LHSP in support of delivering better public
services, economic opportunities and promoting social
stability to the most vulnerable Lebanese and refugees.
He also met with MARCH NGO’s youth group in Tripoli who
have overcome barriers, transforming from two feuding
neighbourhoods to partners working for a better future
for their communities.
At the non-formal education centre run by UNICEF,
Minister Murrison announced over $2.5 million of UK aid
funding to UNICEF’s non-formal education programme. He
saw how non formal schooling is delivered to out of
school refugee and Lebanese children, and how the UK is
working with the international community to ensure a
generation of children do not miss out on education.
Continuing his northern visit, Minister Murrison
visited the First Land Border Regiment along the
Lebanese – Syrian border, which demonstrates the UK’s
strong support to the Lebanese Armed Forces, Lebanon’s
sole defenders, to train, mentor and equip the LAF’s
Land Border Regiments. And securing Lebanon.
Heading South to the village of Toul, he saw how UK aid
support to the Global Mine Action programme is making
safe over 1.1 million m2 of land, with over 6,500 men,
women and children benefitting from mine risk
education.
Minister Murrison also met with Syrian analysts to
discuss the latest situation of refugees in Lebanon and
Syria.
Speaking at the end of his visit, Minister for the
Middle East , said:
I am delighted to be on my first official visit to
Lebanon as Minister for the Middle East, especially
at a time when the UK and Lebanon’s bilateral trade
relations are growing stronger. The UK remains a
steadfast partner of the Government of Lebanon, and
supports the need for economic reforms so that
Lebanon can fulfil its potential, including through
increased trade and investment.
I reiterated the UK’s recognition of Lebanon’s
generosity hosting people fleeing Syria, and got to
see how UK aid is supporting both the host
communities and refugees.
We have been clear: we want Syrians to return home
safely, consistent with international law. The Syrian
regime must immediately return to peace talks to end
this senseless suffering
