US Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Protesters’ Demands Are Legitimate

Demonstrators carry national flags during an anti-government protest in downtown Beirut, Lebanon October 20, 2019. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho
Demonstrators carry national flags during an anti-government protest in downtown Beirut, Lebanon October 20, 2019. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho
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US Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Protesters’ Demands Are Legitimate

Demonstrators carry national flags during an anti-government protest in downtown Beirut, Lebanon October 20, 2019. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho
Demonstrators carry national flags during an anti-government protest in downtown Beirut, Lebanon October 20, 2019. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho

A senior US official described developments in Lebanon as unprecedented, and in many ways, should have happened before. He underlined that demonstrations were an appropriate reaction to many years of financial mismanagement and rampant corruption.

For decades, governments in Lebanon have refused to take economic reforms and to fight corruption, and basically pushed their country to the brink of financial collapse, the senior official told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He went on to say that the problem in Lebanon was not particularly related to any party, religion or sect.

“Corruption is rampant. We tried to work with the Lebanese government, and we tried to encourage them to take some steps,” he emphasized.

The US senior official noted that more than a year after CEDRE, the government has not taken any practical steps to achieve the approved reforms.

“I don’t want to say that it is a failed government, but this government was not able to rise to the challenge,” he stated.

Asked if he believed that Hezbollah was also responsible for the corruption, the US official said: “Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah acknowledged in his recent speech that the party itself is also responsible for the current crisis. So far, these demonstrations have generally been non-sectarian and I don’t want to talk about a specific role of Hezbollah.”

He stressed that the Lebanese people were calling for their rights and for a responsible government that would take the necessary steps to end this crisis.

“We hope that the reforms would be implemented now… But I repeat: it could be too late…” He noted.

“It was like a slow train about to collide; and for years we've been seeing this coming,” the American official remarked, underlining the need for “bold decisions” and “innovative solutions” to overcome the current political and economic crisis.

He affirmed the US supported the “legitimate demands” of the protesters, saying: “80% percent of the Lebanese stand side by side, non-sectarian, peacefully demonstrating, which is wonderful.”



FAO Official: Gulf States Shielded Themselves from Major Shocks

 David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
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FAO Official: Gulf States Shielded Themselves from Major Shocks

 David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), told Asharq al-Awsat that global hunger increased sharply during the coronavirus pandemic, noting that the GCC countries were able to shield themselves from major shocks affecting food security.
Laborde added that global hunger affected over 152 million people, with no improvement in the past two years.
Today, 733 million people suffer from chronic hunger, and 2.3 billion face food insecurity, according to the UN annual report on “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World.”

Laborde explained that the global economic crisis has worsened food insecurity, keeping hunger levels high.
Alongside this, climate shocks and conflicts are major causes of hunger. He also pointed out that food insecurity is closely tied to inequality, and the economic crisis, rising living costs, and high interest rates are deepening existing inequalities both within and between countries.
On whether economic diversification in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is boosting food security, Laborde said: “A move towards a more diversified economy and enhancing the ability to rely on various sources of food supplies are key drivers of food security resilience and stability.”
“GCC countries have managed to shield themselves from major shocks, primarily due to their high income levels and ability to cover import costs without difficulty,” he explained.
Regarding the FAO’s outlook on reducing global hunger, Laborde insisted that ending hunger will require a significant increase in funding.
When asked for suggestions on how governments could enhance food security, Laborde said: “Despite global figures remaining stable, improvements are seen in Asia and Latin America, showing that the right policies and conditions can reduce numbers.”
“Hunger is not inevitable. Investing in social safety nets to protect the poor, along with making structural changes to food systems to be more environmentally friendly, resilient, and equitable, is the right path forward,” emphasized Laborde.
The annual State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, published on Wednesday, said about 733 million people faced hunger in 2023 – one in 11 people globally and one in five in Africa.
Hunger and food insecurity present critical challenges affecting millions globally.
The annual report, released this year during the G20 Global Alliance for Hunger and Poverty Task Force ministerial meeting in Brazil, warns that the world is significantly lagging in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2—ending hunger by 2030.
It highlights that global progress has regressed by 15 years, with malnutrition levels comparable to those seen in 2008-2009.
Despite some progress in areas like stunting and exclusive breastfeeding, a troubling number of people still face food insecurity and malnutrition, with global hunger levels rising.