Beirut, March 13: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel on Friday. He emphasized the need to restore Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability.
Guterres met with Lebanese President Michel Aoun in Beirut, stating he arrived as a friend of the Lebanese people and urged unity among them.
He remarked, “Unfortunately, Lebanon has been dragged into a war that the people did not want.” Guterres expressed hope that his next visit would be to a peaceful Lebanon, where the state alone holds the right to use force and its territorial integrity is fully respected.
He further stated, “This is not the time for armed groups. It is the time for strong states.”
In response, President Aoun highlighted that over 800,000 people have been displaced due to the conflict. He stressed the need to manage their situation and thanked the UN for its support. Aoun also called for an end to Israeli attacks and expressed hope for increased international support during these challenging times.
Meanwhile, a Lebanese economic official reported a 50% decline in the country’s commercial production activities, with sales of non-essential goods dropping by 60-80%.
Mohammad Choukair, President of the Beirut and Mount Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, noted that industrial and agricultural production has decreased by approximately 50% and 40%, respectively. This decline is attributed to the shutdown of production units nationwide and disruptions in exports to Gulf countries.
The tourism sector has seen hotel bookings plummet to just 10-15%, while restaurant operations have decreased by nearly 90%. Travel agencies reported an 80% drop in business.
Choukair warned that if the war continues, hundreds of businesses could close, leading to thousands of job losses and exacerbating the country’s economic and social crisis.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated rapidly since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel, while Israel retaliated with strikes on locations in southern and eastern Lebanon, which it claims are Hezbollah strongholds.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the conflict in the Middle East has resulted in 634 deaths and 1,586 injuries in Lebanon to date.
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