The Lebanese Army announced on Friday that it had started distributing the first instalment of a financial donation offered by the United States to the military and security forces.
“The distribution of the first monthly installment out of six installments of the American grant has begun under the ‘Support Program for Army Personnel and Internal Security Forces’,” Army Command – Directorate of Guidance announced in a statement.
According to the statement, the funds are distributed equally among all military personnel through the OMT company, in coordination with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Army Commander General Joseph Aoun expressed his gratitude to the United States for this valuable initiative towards the Lebanese Army amid the ongoing financial and economic crisis.
According to a communiqué issued by the US Embassy in Lebanon, the United States and the United Nations will commence cash distributions to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) on June 23 under the “Livelihood Support Program.” This program, valued at $55.5 million, will disburse temporary financial support for more than 70,000 LAF personnel. These payments will provide eligible LAF members with $100 per month for a period of six months. As a part of the U.S.-funded program, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is working with a nationwide financial service provider to disburse these funds to eligible LAF members. An equivalent program benefitting Internal Security Forces (ISF) members, valued at $16.5 million, began disbursing six months of financial support for ISF personnel in April. This issuance of cash disbursements is a concrete demonstration of the United States’ ongoing commitment to bolster a key institution that transcends sectarian boundaries and remains critical to Lebanon’s continued security and stability.
