U.S. boosts depleted salaries of Lebanon security forces via U.N

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Lebanon Melanie Hauenstein, Lebanon's Army Chief General Joseph Aoun, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea and Director General of Internal Security Forces (ISF) Major General Imad Osman attend a news conference to launch a Livelihood Support Program for the Lebanese army and ISF hosted by the UNDP in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, at the U.N. headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon January 25, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The United States announced on Wednesday it would provide $72 million as cash stipends to Lebanon's security forces through a bespoke United Nations programme after a currency meltdown slashed salaries.

Lebanon's currency has lost about 97% of its value against the dollar since the country's financial system collapsed in 2019, driving down most soldiers' monthly wages to around $80.