16/10/2019 (Agence Europe) – European solidarity is at work to help Lebanon stop the spread of about 100 forest fires. In response to a request for assistance from this country, six fire-fighting aircrafts are already operational on site, the European Commission announced on Wednesday 16 October. Four are aircraft from the rescEU reserve (two from Italy and two from Greece) and two aircraft have been sent from Cyprus via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. "The EU stands in solidarity with Lebanon. I thank our Member States for their help and solidarity", said the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Chrystos Stylianides. The latter expressed the EU's solidarity with the Lebanese Minister of Interior, Mrs Raya Haffar El-Hassan, with whom he remains in contact. (AN)