During his visit to Lebanon today, Thursday, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, announced the provision of 60 million euros in humanitarian aid for the most vulnerable groups in the country, including Syrian refugees and impoverished Lebanese citizens. This funding comes at a time when the people of Lebanon are facing rising levels of poverty, food insecurity, and disease outbreaks, with around four million people needing humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs.
The new humanitarian package announced by the European Union today will provide essential humanitarian assistance such as food aid, cash support, and educational and health services to those in dire need. It will also contribute to disaster preparedness and emergency response. Aid is being delivered through non-governmental organizations, United Nations agencies, and international organizations. With this new funding, the EU's humanitarian financing for Lebanon since 2011 reaches about 860 million euros.
Lenarčič stated this week that "Lebanon is facing multiple crises, putting an increasing number of people at risk, while hosting around 1.5 million Syrian refugees, the highest number of refugees per capita in the world." He added, "I would like to thank Lebanon for its generosity in assisting those fleeing the horrors of war. The EU will not abandon those in need, and we continue to support the most vulnerable refugees and local communities. However, the root causes of the political and economic crises must be addressed as soon as possible. Humanitarian aid is essential for the victims of these multiple crises in Lebanon, but it is not a solution to the underlying challenges."
On June 14-15, 2023, the EU will host the seventh Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region, which will be crucial in ensuring an effective response in Lebanon.
