The EU announced the release of €15 million in humanitarian aid for the most vulnerable people in Syria and Lebanon, including refugees and Lebanese people in need.
According to the UN, Syria still holds the world’s largest number of internally displaced people and an overall 15.3 million people in need, while in Lebanon 3.9 million people, including 1.5 million refugees, now depend on humanitarian assistance.
The new EU humanitarian package announced today consists of €11.5 million for Syria and €3.5 million for Lebanon. It will provide life-saving humanitarian aid including food assistance and water, sanitation and hygiene support for those who need it the most.
The assistance aims to cover the needs of Syrians both inside the country as well as those of refugees and vulnerable people in Lebanon.
The funding comes at a time when the recent violence escalation in the Middle East is increasingly affecting countries such as Syria and Lebanon already facing rising poverty levels, conflict, food insecurity, displacement and disease outbreaks.
All EU humanitarian assistance is provided based on needs, regardless of status or nationality. The assistance is delivered via NGOs, UN agencies and international organisations.
Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, said: “While crises multiply and needs are at an all-time high, the EU stays committed to relieve human suffering wherever it is found, with particular attention to the most vulnerable. With this new funding, we will ensure to assist Syrians in need inside and out of the country as well as refugees and Lebanese people in need”.
Background
More than 12 years after the start of the Syria crisis, half of the population is displaced, both inside and outside the country. Humanitarian needs in Syria are now at an all-time high, with the food and water crises dramatically deteriorating over the past months.
Food insecurity is sharply increasing, caused by high food prices on the world market, coupled with loss of value of the Syrian currency. Moreover, Northern Syria is affected by intensifying levels of violence exacerbating the needs of the population.
Lebanon is affected by alarming levels of food insecurity, poor condition of the health system as well as failing of the education system. Inflation and lack of access to basic services are furtherly deteriorating the situation, affecting large parts of the population. The impact of the economic crisis continues to affect the resilience of refugees and Lebanese people.
This new allocation brings the total of the humanitarian assistance earmarked this year for Syria to over €186.5 million and over €67 million for people in need in Lebanon.
