French media says Lebanon requests material aid, not volunteers; government denies

BEIRUT: The French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the World Health Organisation (WHO) informed rescuers from French NGO Secouristes Sans Frontières that the Lebanese government refused new benevolent teams on the ground, said an article by French Channel France 3 Thursday.

“Lebanon prefers to receive medicine, equipment, and donations to help the wounded,” noted the article.

Hervé Roy, president of Secouristes Sans Frontières, indicated that the NGO only intervenes upon the affected country’s request and that the NGO’s volunteers from the Côte-d'Or department were prepared to head to Beirut Friday following Lebanon’s request for international aid after the country’s capital has been hit by a massive explosion Tuesday.

“Now they tell us that they no longer want a team,” he added. “We respect the country's decision, but for us, this is the first time that a mission ends so abruptly. "

The France 3 article underlined the preparedness of doctors, nurses, and logisticians, for a potential future trip to Beirut.

The Lebanese Prime Minister's office issued a statement Friday, saying that such misleading news aims at blocking international aid, and that “Lebanon welcomes any assistance from brotherly and friendly countries, and from all institutions in the world, and the country extends its deep thanks for standing by it in this disaster that struck it.”