European Union Increases its aid to Syria

The European Union has decided to increase its humanitarian aid to Syria for 2025 to €202.5 million, after adding €20 million to support basic needs in northeastern Syria.

European humanitarian aid focuses on providing healthcare and food services, according to the EU Delegation to Syria via the X platform on Tuesday.

Hajja Lahbib, EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, told the EU website that the EU is committed to providing humanitarian aid to northeastern Syria, where citizens need protection and urgent access to health services.

The European Union has allocated €83 million for humanitarian aid in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon. The aid includes an additional €20 million for Syria, €50 million for Gaza, and €13 million for Lebanon.

Earlier this year, the European Union announced new humanitarian aid to Syria worth €235 million, according to EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness, and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, on January 17.

At the ninth donor conference, held on March 17 in Brussels, donor countries pledged €5.8 billion.

Dubravka Suica, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, said during the conference that donor countries pledged a total of €5.8 billion, including €4.2 billion in grants and €1.6 billion in loans.

On March 27, Italy allocated approximately €68 million ($73.20 million) to fund humanitarian projects and rebuild infrastructure in Syria, according to Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani during his address to Parliament.

“An initial package has been allocated for humanitarian initiatives in the hospital and health sector, infrastructure, and strengthening food supply chains,” Minister Antonio Tajani said in a parliamentary hearing.

On March 17, Germany pledged a new €300 million financial aid package for Syria, as part of the pledges that EU countries intend to make at the Brussels conference.

The German funding will be directed to providing food, health services, and emergency shelter, as well as preventive measures for the most vulnerable, in particular, according to Reuters.

Syrian refugees and host communities in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Turkey will also receive support, according to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

T/S
ANHA