UN Lebanon coordinator on urgent need for funds

The UN's humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon on Saturday reiterated the urgent need for more funds to cover the country's critical needs of shelter, food, health and education.

Najat Rochdi said most donors have asked that aid be channeled through the UN, which she said would be coordinated with Lebanon's armed forces to ensure access.

She was speaking the wake of the devastating explosion that wrecked Beirut's port earlier this month.

"We will be monitoring very, very closely every single delivery of our humanitarian assistance," Rochdi said. "We will be accountable not only to donors, because our accountability goes also to the affected population."

On Friday, the UN launched a $565 million appeal for Lebanon with immediate humanitarian assistance and initial recovery efforts.

Last week, international donors pledged nearly $300 million of emergency assistance to Lebanon.