In the face of escalating violence between Hezbollah and Israel, on Thursday 3 October the European Commission announced a further €30 million in humanitarian aid to support vulnerable populations in Lebanon.
“Our new funding will ensure civilians receive much needed assistance during this very difficult time”, declared the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, calling for the protection of civilians and a ceasefire “across the border with Lebanon and in Gaza”.
The funds will be used to provide emergency food aid, shelter and healthcare, according to the Commission. The EU is also continuing to coordinate the dispatch of humanitarian supplies to Beirut via its Civil Protection Mechanism.
On the ground, hostilities are continuing. On Thursday, Israel carried out further deadly raids on Beirut and its southern suburbs, AFP reported.
“Yesterday, seven of our medical colleagues were deliberately targeted and killed in their centre in Beirut”, denounced Ahmad Chreif, deputy medical coordinator of Médecins du Monde, at a press conference on Thursday.
At least one million people, or a fifth of the population, including 350,000 children, are now displaced in the country, according to the Beirut-based NGO Save The Children.
At the end of September, the European Commission had already released a further €10 million for Lebanon (see EUROPE 13493/24). The new contribution brings the EU’s total humanitarian aid for the country to over €104 million in 2024. (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)