On Thursday, the EU Commission announced a new allocation of €20 million to support the most vulnerable people in Lebanon.
The humanitarian aid comes in response to the increasing food insecurity affecting people in Lebanon, both Lebanese and refugees, as food prices are soaring due to the war in Ukraine.
The new funding will focus on areas with high food insecurity and insufficient access to healthcare in Lebanon.
The press release added that the EU humanitarian assistance will be delivered in partnership with UN agencies, international organizations, and NGOs.
Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, said: “The political, economic and financial crises in Lebanon have put millions of people in need of assistance over the past two years. Covid-19 and the Beirut port explosion, have compounded the suffering of both vulnerable Lebanese people and Syrian refugees alike.”
“Now, people in Lebanon are challenged by global food and fuel shocks resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The EU stands in solidarity with the Lebanese people and the refugee communities during the time of need,” Lenarčič added.
Lebanon, which is now facing an additional crisis, has been one of the most vulnerable countries in recent times, as the United Nations reported that more than 2 million people in Lebanon are now in need of humanitarian aid.
The NGO Save The Children also warned in a report that half of the Lebanese children are now in need of humanitarian aid.
The organization added that “this is in addition to the 1.8 million refugees and migrants living in Lebanon, including 700,000 Syrian refugee children already facing dire conditions. About 99% of Syrian households do not have enough money to buy food.”
UNICEF also reported on Wednesday that support is needed to prevent the deterioration of the nutrition sectors, as “the number of children who had to skip a meal rose to 53% in October 2021, from 37% just six months earlier.”
