The immediate relief needs in Lebanon “are largely being met,” but the long-term rehabilitation of that war-torn country will be long and costly, M. Peter McPherson, administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (AID), said today.
McPherson, who returned last night from a two-day visit to Lebanon, told a press conference that the immediate need is for shelter for about 60,000 people before the fall rains. He said that tents are being purchased from Pakistan partly with United States funds to be set up for these people by the United Nations Works and Relief Agency (UNWRA).
While McPherson acknowledged that there were probably thousands of others who have found shelter with relatives, his figures point to the grossly exaggerated reports early in the Lebanon war that some 600,000 were left homeless.
McPherson said the United States does not have any casualty figures since the fighting began in Lebanon last June, but he noted that the medical problem, which had been through to have been great, has largely been taken care of. He said that many European countries sent medical teams in Lebanon, but within a few weeks, many returned home because there was little for them to do.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
