BEIRUT: During a meeting with Prime Minister Najib Mikati, interim U.N. Representative for Lebanon Robert Watkins expressed the U.N.’s condolences for the loss of life incurred in the recent collapse of a building in Ashrafieh.

In a statement released by Watkins’ office following the meeting, he also relayed the U.N.’s readiness to lend its expertise in “developing efficient disaster reduction and disaster management policies” to the government, pointing out that such matters have been prioritized by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who visited Lebanon over the weekend.

Of Ban’s visit, Watkins said “It was a very, very good visit and an opportunity for Mr. Ban to exchange ideas with Lebanese officials on a number of very important issues, particularly those related to U.N. resolutions relevant to Lebanon.”