Brussels, 01/08/2006 (Agence Europe) - The request from EU foreign ministers for an immediate cessation of hostilities, followed by a sustainable ceasefire in Lebanon, should, if agreed, improve the humanitarian situation - an essential aspect of the crisis that Tuesday's extraordinary Council tackled alongside the political and security aspects (see related article). “It is extremely important to work on the humanitarian crisis. We are shocked by the Qana massacre - it is unacceptable. Innocent citizens must not continue to lose their lives”. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, External Relations Commissioner, stressed that she and Louis Michel had decided to support a €50 million package of humanitarian aid, but money is not enough. What is needed is access, humanitarian corridors, it is necessary to be able to get into Lebanon and then out again, she hammered out to the press.
The Council conclusions restate the EU's resolve to work with the international community in bringing humanitarian relief to the Lebanese people, as well as the EU's call on all parties to ensure that there is a safe and effective way to take humanitarian aid to the people in need, especially in southern Lebanon.
The Council recalls that, to date, the Community and its Member States have committed over €56 million in humanitarian aid (including €30 million in Community aid) and have pledged up to €52 million (namely €30 million for which the Commission requests that the budgetary authority allow the emergency reserve of the Community budget to be dipped into, with a fair chance of having its request accepted, and promises of support from Member States). The EU asserts, moreover, its readiness to fully contribute to the international conference which is foreseen for helping Lebanon back on its feet and for rebuilding the country.
During the exchange of views, ministers stressed how important it was to have good consular cooperation and the need for greater coordination, but they said they were aware that the main problem is how to get aid to the region. They are therefore reflecting on concrete solutions to the problem (if necessary by keeping Beirut airport open, using transport by sea from Beirut towards the South, and even calling on Israel to authorise the use of the port of Haifa to take aid to southern Lebanon).