EU Calls for Medical Aid to Lebanon Amid Ongoing Crisis
In a recent communication, EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides and Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič have issued an urgent appeal to EU member states, urging them to provide essential medical assistance to Lebanon. This letter, which has been acquired by Euronews, underscores the critical situation in the country due to escalating hostilities that have severely compromised its medical services.
Since the escalation of conflict on 30 September, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have intensified their ground operations in southern Lebanon, primarily targeting the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. In light of these developments, the European Commission has received an official request for aid from Lebanese authorities, emphasizing the dire need for vital medical supplies.
This request is currently being processed through the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism, a framework established in 2001 to enhance cooperation among EU member states and 10 other participating nations for improved disaster preparedness and response.
Although Lebanon is not a member of this mechanism, the EU has made it clear that any country worldwide, along with UN agencies and various international organizations, can seek assistance during emergencies. The letter highlights that Lebanon’s healthcare system is overwhelmed, struggling to manage the increasing number of casualties. Many patients are in urgent need of specialized medical treatment, which has become scarce due to the extensive damage inflicted on healthcare infrastructure.
The EU commissioners have strongly urged member states to “act swiftly and in a coordinated manner,” calling on health ministers and civil protection authorities to “urgently offer further medical aid to Lebanon.” The logistics of this assistance are to be coordinated through national civil protection authorities and directed to the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), which serves as the operational hub of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
Since its establishment, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has responded to over 700 requests for assistance globally. Notably, in 2023 alone, it has been activated 66 times, addressing various crises, including the war in Ukraine, devastating wildfires across Europe, and the catastrophic earthquake impacting Syria and Türkiye.
