NNA - Caretaker Foreign Minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, on Monday welcomed the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), Cindy McCain, accompanied by WFP Lebanon Director, Matthew Hollingworth, with whom he discussed the organization’s activities in Lebanon and potential efforts to facilitate the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland.

Both McCain and Hollingworth expressed their understanding of Lebanon’s position, stressing the need for "providing aid to Syrian refugees within Syria, rather than in Lebanon, to encourage their return." The pair also emphasized that the WFP's priority is to "prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Lebanon."

Separately, Bou Habib met with Qatar’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, with whom he discussed the situation in Lebanon and the region. The conversation focused on Qatar’s efforts to facilitate the election of a Lebanese president and broker a ceasefire in Gaza.

Bou Habib reiterated Lebanon’s gratitude to Qatar, particularly for its continuous support of the Lebanese Armed Forces and its decision not to issue travel warnings to its citizens amid ongoing Israeli aggression, calling it "a clear message of solidarity with Lebanon."

==================R.H.