Nissan's Ghosn signs off on aid for Lebanon victims

Companies often pledge aid in humanitarian crises such as earthquakes and other natural disasters, but rarely when it involves a politically charged environment such as the current conflict between Israel and Hizbollah militants.

Ghosn, who also heads Nissan's partner Renault SA , is a naturalised Frenchman born in Brazil, but spent his formative years in Lebanon. Both Ghosn's parents are of Lebanese descent.

A Nissan official said the latest decision was initiated by the company's Corporate Citizenship Team, which concluded that the social impact of the conflict in Lebanon warranted the aid, especially because it involved a significant number of children.

All initiatives are ultimately signed off by the CEO.

"We recognise that there may be some level of risk in making donations when the situation is political, but from the standpoint of corporate social responsibility, we concluded that this was a just cause," the official said.

Japan's second-biggest auto maker said the money would be donated to organisations that specifically assist refugees.

Nissan has been the most aggressive among Japanese auto makers in pursuing growth in the small but promising Middle East car market.

Many Lebanese have been displaced by the fighting between Israel and the Hizbollah guerrilla group. In the deadliest single attack in the 19-day-old conflict, the Israeli army on Sunday bombed the southern Lebanese village of Qana, killing at least 60 people -- mostly women and children.

The war has so far killed well over 500 people in Lebanon and 51 Israelis.

The latest conflict between the long-time adversaries erupted after Hizbollah seized two Israeli soldiers on July 12.

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