Amid escalating tensions between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, the European Union has announced a new initiative to aid Lebanon through the establishment of a “humanitarian airbridge.”
In a recent statement, the European Commission revealed that the first three flights of this initiative are set to launch from Italy and Dubai, with the inaugural flight expected to arrive in Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, on October 11.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, took to social media platform X to express her support for those affected by the ongoing crisis. “The European Union stands with the people affected by the crisis in Lebanon,” she declared, highlighting the broad range of aid that will be provided, including “blankets, shelter kits, and medical supplies,” adding, “We will send more.”
Just last week, the EU increased its humanitarian assistance for Lebanon, boosting the budget by 30 million euros in light of the worsening violence. Since September 23, Israel has ramped up its military actions against Hezbollah, leading to over 1,150 casualties and displacing more than a million individuals from their homes.
