Press Releases
Dingell Leads Lebanon Caucus Co-Chairs in Calling for Action to Address Deteriorating Economic and Political Situation in Lebanon
Washington,
August 19, 2021
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Congressman Charlie Crist (D-FL), Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA), and Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL), Co-Chairs of the U.S.-Lebanon Friendship Caucus, led a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and USAID Administrator Samantha Power calling for action to address the deteriorating economic and political situation in Lebanon. “Without additional support, key institutions in Lebanon, including higher education institutions and the health system, face potential collapse,” the lawmakers wrote. “Additionally, we ask that you continue to support accountability for institutions and individuals responsible for the economic and political mismanagement that has led to the current crisis, as well as ongoing efforts to investigate the cause of the Beirut port explosion last August.” “In addition to the global pandemic and being host to the largest number of refugees per capita, last year Lebanon experienced a massive explosion at the port of Beirut which killed hundreds, injured thousands and left hundreds of thousands of people homeless due to the blast’s destruction of their homes.” the lawmakers continued. “Lebanon has also seen an economic crisis which has resulted in over 90% devaluation in its currency, widespread unemployment and poverty. The Lebanese people are now experiencing shortages of food, fuel, and medicine. The economic crisis in Lebanon has been ranked by the World Bank as one of the top three ‘most severe crises episodes globally since the mid-nineteenth century.’”
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