EU responds swiftly to new influx of Palestinian refugees to Lebanon

European Commission

Press release

Brussels, 20 December 2012

EU responds swiftly to new influx of Palestinian refugees to Lebanon

The European Commission announced today the release of an additional € 2 million to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees arriving from Syria in Lebanon.

"I want to praise the generosity of the people of Lebanon towards the refugees who crossed the Syrian border in the past days and weeks," said Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis response.

"The escalating conflict is creating more and more refugees and this is exhausting the already over-burdened local capacities. During my visit to Lebanon last week, I assured the refugees and the Lebanese people that we would stand by them as the humanitarian needs increase. This additional funding is a renewed sign of European solidarity with all those affected by the Syrian crisis."

In recent days more than four thousand refugees of Palestinian origin have crossed into Lebanon seeking safety and shelter and many more are expected to join them. These new refugees are on top of more than 160,000 Syrians and Palestinians who have already crossed the border in the past months to escape the Syrian conflict.

As temperatures drop to freezing point in some parts of the country, the priority for the use of these additional funds will be to provide shelter, food, healthcare and basic household items such as blankets, warm clothing, stoves for heating and cooking.