Brussels, 26/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - With growing evidence of the worsening large-scale humanitarian crisis unfolding in Lebanon, the European Commission has announced an additional emergency decision for €10 million to help the victims, notably the growing numbers of internally displaced people who have been forced to flee from their homes. The funds, managed by the Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) can be made available in a very short time (48 to 72 hours) and will complete the initial aid of the same amount released last week (EUROPE 9237). Specialist UN agencies will be the main ECHO partners on the ground.
At the same time, the Commission called on the EU Budgetary Authority (Parliament/Council) to authorise the release of €30 million out of the Community budget reserve, which will bring the European Commission's contribution up to €50 million in the UN appeal for $150 million (around €120 million) in humanitarian aid for Lebanon.
In a press release, Louis Michel, the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid renewed his call for "both sides in the conflict to respect humanitarian rules and principles. Safe humanitarian corridors must be granted as a matter of urgency. Relief organisations are ready to deliver aid to the needy people but the aid convoys are queuing at the borders or in Beirut. Only a few of them have been allowed to reach the southern part of Lebanon. This is not enough. I urge the warring parties to accept a humanitarian truce and grant regular access so that aid can get to the civilians who are trapped in this conflict". In reply to the press, the Commissioner's spokesperson Amadeu Altafaj-Tardio explained on Wednesday that ECHO reserves were subject to strong demand due to the crisis in Darfur (Sudan), the earthquake in Pakistan. He reiterated that these funds were under pressure and were not inexhaustible (there is €27 million out of the envelope for unpredicted crises and disasters until the end of the year). The spokesperson explained that his was why they were making an appeal for budgetary reservations.
11 million to evacuate citizens of developing countries from Lebanon
The Commission has allocated €11 million to help around 10,000 citizens from developing countries (mainly Asian countries) return home from Lebanon. This aid will go through the Community civil protection system which is already up and running (EUROPE 9238). It was requested by the countries' authorities that do not have the means to help their nationals. It will significantly contribute to helping the Lebanese authorities and developing countries in the evacuation of people from the country as well as provide support and medical assistance to evacuees in transit countries (mainly Syria, Jordan and Cyprus) and help in a swift and orderly repatriation to their home countries. The Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner said: “The EU is doing everything in its power to help civilians of all nationalities caught up in this conflict... The package … will mean swift help for those who need it most, and help to avoid creating new humanitarian crises in transit countries”.