EU Opens Air Corridor to Deliver Humanitarian Aid to Lebanon
Brussels,October 9 (Xinhua) – The European Union (EU) announced on Tuesdaythe opening of an air corridor to deliver humanitarian aid to Lebanon, following escalating tensions between Lebanon and Israel.
The EU’s air corridorwill consist of three flights departing from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Brindisi, Italy, carrying medical supplies, blankets, emergency shelter materials, and other essential itemsto Beirut, Lebanon’s capital. The first flight is scheduled to arrive in Beirut on October 11.
In addition to the air corridor, the European Commission is mobilizing EU member states to provide assistance to Lebanon by coveringtransportation costs. Since last week, France, Belgium, Spain, Poland, and Slovakia have already sent medical supplies and other aid to Lebanon. Greece is also expected to send aid soon.
The EU will mobilize all its emergency forces tofully support the Lebanese people affected by the conflict, the announcement said. The EU Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre will work closely with EU member states and humanitarian partners to provide further assistance to Lebanon.
On September 17, Lebanon experienced a communications equipment explosion, which subsequently led to a sharp escalation of tensions betweenLebanon and Israel. The humanitarian situation in Lebanon has continued to deteriorate.
According to EU statistics, the conflict has led to an unprecedented number of displaced people in Lebanon. Millions of Lebanese citizens and Syrian refugees hosted in the country are facing food shortages, with the gap expected to widen.
In response to the dire situation,the EU allocated an additional €10 million in humanitarian aid to Lebanon on September 29, followed by another €30 million on October 3. The European Commission stated that, including these recent emergency aid packages, the EU’s total aid to Lebanon this year has reached €104 million.
References:
- European Commission (2024, October 9). EU opens air corridor to deliver humanitarian aid to Lebanon. Retrieved from [link to EU Commission website]
- Xinhua News Agency (2024, October 9). EU Opens Air Corridor to Deliver Humanitarian Aid to Lebanon.Retrieved from [link to Xinhua News Agency website]
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