On Wednesday 9 October, the European Commission announced the launch of a humanitarian air bridge to Lebanon to support vulnerable populations affected by the current crisis.
Three flights from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and Brindisi (Italy) will carry EU humanitarian stocks, including hygiene items, blankets and emergency shelter kits. The first flight is due to arrive in Beirut on Friday 11 October.
Since the beginning of October, the Commission has also been coordinating the delivery of material aid via the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism. Contributions from Spain, Slovakia, Poland, France and Belgium have already been delivered, and further aid from Greece is expected in the next few days, the Commission said.
Donations from Member States include essential medicines and medical equipment for displaced people without access to emergency care.
These initiatives are in addition to the €104 million in humanitarian aid already allocated by the EU to Lebanon this year
International conference. On Wednesday, France announced that an international conference on Lebanon would be held in Paris on Thursday 24 October. The aim of this conference will be to mobilise the international community to meet the protection and emergency relief needs of the population and to identify ways of supporting Lebanon's institutions, in particular the Lebanese Armed Forces, according to a press release from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)