Macron pledges €100 million for Lebanon at Paris aid conference

French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged €100 million ($108 million) in emergency humanitarian aid to crisis-ravaged Lebanon, where Israel is waging a ground and air offensive against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.

"The war must end as soon as possible, we need a ceasefire in Lebanon," Macron said at an international aid conference in Paris on Thursday.

He assured the country and its people of support in times of need and in rebuilding "a free, sovereign Lebanon."

The United Nations has estimated the immediate emergency aid needed for the country at €400 million.

Macron lamented the growing number of civilian casualties due to Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon and in the capital Beirut.

Lebanon's caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, said in Paris that Israel's attacks threatened the country's existence and have caused massive damage to the infrastructure and economy, in addition to displacing hundreds of thousands of people.

"We need an immediate ceasefire," he said.