BEIRUT, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has increased its targeted assistance for emergency education response and recovery in Lebanon to 1.8 million U.S. dollars, as the organization's Director-General, Khaled El-Enany, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the country during his first official visit.
According to a UNESCO statement issued Thursday, the additional assistance includes a 1-million-U.S.-dollar grant from the Global Partnership for Education to strengthen national education planning and build a more resilient education system in Lebanon.
During his visit, El-Enany met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh, and other government officials.
El-Enany also visited the ancient Phoenician city of Tyre in southern Lebanon, recently placed on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger. He announced 100,000 dollars from the Heritage Emergency Fund for damage assessment, emergency stabilization, and protection of archaeological remains.
The visit also saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Lebanese government to strengthen cooperation through 2029, according to the statement. ■
