Slovenia to provide emergency humanitarian aid to Lebanon

4. 10. 2024

• Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs

Slovenia will provide half a million euros for emergency humanitarian aid to Lebanon. Together with the Slovenian Karitas, the strategic partner for the emergency humanitarian response, and the ITF - Enhancing Human Security, the assistance in the form of basic necessities will be targeted at the most vulnerable internally displaced persons, with a special focus on women, children and the elderly.

Lebanon is currently facing a new humanitarian and refugee crisis as a result of the recent outbreak of violence between Israel and Hezbollah. Israeli air strikes, which have also affected southern Lebanon, have forced residents to move in large numbers towards Beirut and other safer areas. Critical infrastructure, including water sources, has been destroyed, leaving over 300,000 residents of Beirut without access to clean drinking water. According to the latest figures, more than 1,000 people have been killed and around 8,000 injured in the attacks. The attacks have led to the closure of 37 health facilities, further impairing access to emergency care.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 1 million of the 5.7 million people in Lebanon are already in need of urgent humanitarian assistance in the current conflict. The number of refugees and internally displaced persons has risen to around 160,000, hosted in shelters and camps, and the number continues to grow. According to OCHA USD 425.7 million is needed to help these people, but only 2.3% of the funds needed have been raised so far.

Due to the gravity of the situation, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia will allocate €500,000 for emergency humanitarian assistance through the Slovenian Caritas and the ITF - Enhancing Human Security. The funds will provide internally displaced persons in public shelters with basic necessities, mattresses, blankets and assistance in the form of food parcels or vouchers that the displaced can redeem in shops. The focus of the assistance will be on helping vulnerable women, children (especially babies), the elderly and the sick. For the displaced persons staying with family members, the assistance will consist of the provision of food parcels and cash assistance to pay rent costs for more than 2,400 internally displaced families.