The European Commission has allocated five million euros to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs of people crossing into Syria.
According to a statement from the European Union on Wednesday, November 6, this step comes in light of the ongoing escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which has led to the displacement of large numbers of people and crossings from Lebanon into Syria.
The allocated amount aims to expand humanitarian support for all Syrians and assist the displaced persons and host communities in meeting immediate needs, such as food, health, and protection assistance.
Assistance will be channeled through the European Union’s humanitarian partners, who respond to the displacement crisis in Syria to ensure that vital aid is delivered quickly to the arrivals.
European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, stated that the European Union is concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian consequences resulting from the intensification of hostilities in Lebanon, as is already the case in Syria.
Furthermore, de-escalation at the regional level and continued international support are more crucial than ever to ensure that civilians do not pay the price of war, according to the European Commissioner.
While the European Union is working to increase aid for forcibly displaced persons, it calls for respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians who remain the most affected by the violence.
Ongoing aid and support
The assistance and relief support for those displaced due to the war in Lebanon continue, as several countries, including Iran, Iraq, the UAE, and Venezuela, announced last month the provision of assistance and support in this regard.
Also, the European Union announced in the same month the provision of immediate and emergency aid worth 500,000 euros to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The European Union mentioned that the financial aid would meet the needs of the displaced persons from Lebanon to Syria for six months, adding that the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) would be responsible for distributing this aid.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, called for securing 324 million dollars to assist those fleeing from Lebanon to Syria.
This came during his meeting with the Syrian regime’s president, Bashar al-Assad, and several Syrian officials in Damascus on October 8, where Grandi emphasized the importance of the Syrian government’s (referring to the regime) guarantee of the safety and security of displaced persons from Lebanon.
He also stressed the urgent need to mobilize humanitarian aid and provide further support for early recovery activities, as stipulated in Security Council resolutions.