Switzerland pledges CHF4 million to support Lebanese
The blast has been blamed on a warehouse of volatile chemicals.
Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Switzerland has pledged at least CHF4 million ($4.4 million) in direct aid to the Lebanese population following a Beirut explosion that killed more than 150 people. The contribution was made as part of an international donation conference.
Some 30 countries and organisations took part in the online fundraising summit on Sunday, which was organized by French President Emmanuel Macron. Switzerland was represented by Manuel Bessler, head of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Corps, the Swiss foreign ministry told the Keystone-SDA news agency.
The money will flow into Lebanon under the supervision of the United Nations and other organisations to be spent on caring for the most severely affected people. The blast on Tuesday also injured some 6,000 people and left 300,000 homeless.
The UN estimates that Lebanon needs around $117 million (CHF107 million) in aid funds. The total amount raised by the fundraising summit on Sunday has not yet been released.
The blast that has been blamed on a store of ammonium nitrate in the warehouse. Many buildings were destroyed or damaged in a large radius, and dozens of people are still missing.
Switzerland has already pledged CHF500,000 to the Lebanese branch of the Red Cross and has sent 20 specialists to Beirut.
There are no reports of other casualties among the 1,500 Swiss nationals who live in Lebanon, or from Swiss tourists.
Working on Sundays is detrimental to well-being, says Swiss study
This content was published on
A study by the University of Bern shows that working on Sundays is detrimental to well-being and particularly affects women.
Safra Sarasin private bank and former asset manager sentenced
This content was published on
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland has fined private bank J. Safra Sarasin CHF3.5 million for aggravated money laundering. A former bank employee received a six-month suspended prison sentence.
JPMorgan to pay CHF270 million to settle 1MDB claims
This content was published on
JPMorgan Chase has agreed to pay CHF270 million to the Malaysian government to settle all issues related to its role in the 1MDB financial scandal.
Famine confirmed in Gaza for first time, says UN-backed report
This content was published on
Famine has been declared in a northern part of the Gaza Strip, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system.
Zurich Airport ground handling staff to strike on Friday
This content was published on
Ground handling staff at Zurich Airport have announced a strike for Friday afternoon. According to a union, 200 jobs are at risk.
This content was published on
Philippe Lazzarini will step down as head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) at the end of his term in March, he announced on Thursday.
Swiss government predicts CHF845 million budget deficit in 2026
This content was published on
The Federal Council published its 2026 budget proposal on Thursday: a projected deficit of CHF845 million francs ($1 billion).
This content was published on
The Gösgen nuclear power plant in northwestern Switzerland will be out of service for six months. It has not been connected to the grid since late May.
Swiss authorities and firms agree to cut sugar in cereals, yoghurts and drinks
This content was published on
Cereals, yoghurts and drinks in Switzerland will contain less sugar by 2028. The Swiss government and 21 companies renewed the so-called Milan Declaration in Bern on Thursday.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Second Swiss humanitarian aid team dispatched to Beirut
This content was published on
The Swiss Humanitarian Aid Corps workers are accompanied by three damage site experts from the armed forces, the foreign ministry said on Thursday. An initial team of ten Swiss experts, comprising of engineers, infrastructure specialists, a security advisor, a logistician, a telecommunications manager and a psychologist, have been in Lebanon since Thursday to evaluate the…
This content was published on
A group of around 10 experts is headed to Lebanon to support the Swiss embassy in Beirut, which was damaged in the explosion on Tuesday.
Swiss offer help to Lebanon after deadly blast in Beirut
This content was published on
Switzerland has sent its condolences to the government of Lebanon following an explosion in the capital Beirut, killing at least 100 people.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.