Through the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian crisis, the EU adopted on Thursday 4 March, a €130 million aid package to support Syrian refugees and local communities in Jordan and Lebanon, said the European Commission on Friday 5 March.
Lebanon will benefit from €98 million in support.
“The funds will help also alleviating the consequences of the Beirut port blast, which affected both Syrian refugees and Lebanese people”, said the Commission (see EUROPE 12543/2). They will be used in areas such as social protection and assistance, with continued support for the most vulnerable (€25 million) and will provide support to a comprehensive national social protection system (€20 million). Access to health care services and vaccinations, including for Covid-19, will receive assistance of €29 million. €10 million has been set aside for essential water services, while the same amount has also been made available for non-formal education; €4 million will help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
Jordan will be allocated €32 million. €17 million is for solid waste management, €8 million to the protection of boys, girls and women, and €7 million for non-formal education.
According to the Commission, the entire trust fund budget has been translated into specific actions, with over €1 billion for Lebanon, over €560 million for Jordan, €500 million for Turkey and over €160 million for Iraq. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)