EU boosts humanitarian response for Mideast with additional EUR 83 mln

BRUSSELS, May 21 (KUNA) -- The European Commission announced the allocation of an additional EUR 83 million in humanitarian aid in response to the rapidly deteriorating situation in Gaza Strip, the West Bank, north-east Syria and Lebanon.
The Commission said in a press release on Wednesday that the funding package includes EUR 50 million in additional humanitarian assistance for Gaza and the West Bank, bringing the EU's total aid to the region in 2025 to EUR 170 million.
The funding aims to support humanitarian partners in increasing the supply of aid to civilians affected by the worsening crisis.
In the same context, the Commission allocated an additional EUR 20 million to support humanitarian operations in North-East Syria, raising the total EU humanitarian assistance to Syria in 2025 to EUR 202.5 million. This funding will be used to meet basic needs, particularly food and healthcare.
The Commission also announced an additional EUR 13 million in humanitarian funding for Lebanon to support the most vulnerable groups, especially Syrian refugees and Lebanese communities affected by conflict, amid deteriorating living conditions and efforts to maintain a fragile stability in some border regions.
The additional allocation comes as part of the EU's ongoing efforts to address humanitarian crises in the Middle East, particularly in light of the growing security and socio-economic challenges in conflict-affected areas, according to the statement. (end) arn.gb