Three flights: “Ongoing crisis” – EU starts airlift to Beirut

“To support those affected by the ongoing crisis in Lebanon,” the European Union is setting up a humanitarian airlift. According to the EU Commission, the first flight will take off on Friday. There are expected to be three flights to Beirut initially, with hygiene products, blankets, emergency shelter, medicines and medical supplies on board.

The deliveries complement aid that has already been sent from several EU member states such as Spain, Slovakia, Poland, France and Belgium. The commission covers the transport costs and coordinates the relief measures.

Even before the new commitment, the EU had provided around 104 million euros in humanitarian aid for Lebanon this year. The reason for the current difficult situation for many people in the country is the Israeli military actions against the pro-Iranian Shiite militia Hezbollah. Since the beginning of the Gaza war a year ago, it has been attacking Israel’s northern border region from Lebanon with rockets, grenades and drones.