The Diplomat
Socialist MEPs Hana Jalloul and Leire Pajín have asked the President of the European Commission, Usula Von Der Leyen, and the Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, for Brussels to increase humanitarian aid to Lebanon as a result of the deterioration in the country due to the Israeli ground invasion.
The letter, signed by other MEPs, warns that “recent military actions have resulted in a significant loss of life and widespread internal displacement, which requires an increase in humanitarian assistance by the European Union.”
“It is imperative that the European Union acts quickly and decisively to alleviate the suffering of millions of people in Lebanon,” stressed Hana Jalloul, member of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET). “We cannot sit idly by while the situation worsens. Humanitarian aid must be our priority,” she added.
“The images of destruction and suffering coming from Lebanon are unacceptable,” said Leire Pajín, a member of the European Parliament’s Development Committee (DEVE). “Lebanon hosts one of the highest refugee populations per capita in the world, with many living in deplorable conditions,” she continued. “Added to this situation is the arrival of winter, which threatens to aggravate the situation for vulnerable families in the region,” she added.
In light of the United Nations appeal to mobilize $426 million in support of civilians affected by the conflict, Jalloul and Pajín urge the European Commission to enhance its humanitarian assistance, providing vital resources such as food, shelter and medical care. “Using the EU’s ‘Flexibility Instruments’ will facilitate a more effective response for the affected Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese populations,” they add.
To date, more than 2,300 people have been killed and 1.2 million people—one-fifth of Lebanon’s population—have been displaced by Israeli bombing. “It is essential to disarm Hezbollah, strengthen democratic institutions in Lebanon and enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1701 to ensure the protection of civilians and respect for international humanitarian law,” Jalloul warned. “The European Union must reaffirm its commitment to these principles and work towards a more substantial humanitarian response,” concluded Leire Pajín.
