EU TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN AID WORTH US$526 MLN TO WEST ASIA

BRUSSELS, March 16 (Bernama-dpa) -- The European Union is to provide €458 million (US$526 million) in humanitarian aid to West Asia in 2026, the European Commission announced.

"In a war-torn West Asia, the European Union is stepping up while others step back," EU Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib said on Monday, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

"We are now the largest donor still delivering humanitarian aid in some of the world’s most severe crises, helping people living through the darkest moments of their lives. We must stand with them."

Of the available funds, €210 million is to benefit people in Syria and will cover "food assistance, health care, shelter, clean water and education for children out of school", the commission said.

In Syria 16.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, according to EU figures.

Another €124 million is to support food assistance, access to health care, shelter, clean water and education in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

People in Lebanon are to benefit from €100 million in humanitarian support. The EU started last week to deliver medical and relief items to Lebanon to respond to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

In addition, €15.5 million is to support humanitarian relief efforts in Jordan and €8 million in Egypt.

-- BERNAMA-dpa