The European Commission (EC) announced today that it is establishing air lines that will deliver humanitarian aid to Lebanon.
The first three flights will, among other things, carry hygiene products, blankets and emergency shelter kits, writes Belgian news agency Belga.
The escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has plunged Lebanon into crisis, with Israeli bombing forcing more than 400,000 people to flee to neighboring Syria in less than two weeks.
“The EU is mobilizing all emergency response instruments at its disposal to be able to help people affected by the ongoing crisis,” the EC said.
The planes will take off from Brindisi, Italy and Dubai, with the first expected to land in Beirut on Friday.
In addition, humanitarian aid from Spain, Slovakia, Poland, France and Belgium has been delivered to Lebanon in recent days through the EU’s civil protection mechanism, with the EU financing the transport costs.
A Belgian military plane for the evacuation of Belgians and other Europeans left today for Lebanon, carrying medical equipment worth 150,000 euros that will be distributed to hospitals.