PARIS, March 19 (Reuters) - France will double its humanitarian aid to Lebanon to the value of 17 million euros ($19.70 million), France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Thursday, as
France Doubles Humanitarian Aid to Lebanon as Conflict with Israel Rages
France's Response to the Escalating Lebanon-Israel Crisis
Increased Humanitarian Aid Announced
PARIS, March 19 (Reuters) - France will double its humanitarian aid to Lebanon to the value of 17 million euros ($19.70 million), France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Thursday, as Lebanon grapples with Israel's military campaign in the country.
Official Statement and Diplomatic Efforts
Barrot made the announcement on his social media account as he visited Beirut, as part of efforts to get a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Challenges in Disarming Hezbollah
Jean-Yves Le Drian, France's special envoy for Lebanon, had said earlier this week that it was unreasonable to expect the Lebanese government to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah while the country is being bombed by Israel.
Israel's Position on Direct Talks
Israel has rebuffed an offer of direct talks from Beirut as too little, too late by a government that shares its goal of wanting Hezbollah disarmed but fears that acting against it could risk civil war, sources familiar with the situation said.
Additional Information
($1 = 0.8629 euros)
(Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)
