FINLAND/BELGIUM: European Union gives 10 million euros humanitarian aid to Lebanon

The European Union announced 10 million euros ($12.6 million) in aid on Thursday (July 20) to help Lebanese fleeing fighting in their country and expressed grave concern over the humanitarian situation in the region. "The Commission will in this very initial phase commit 10 million euros for the most urgent needs," EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said in Pori, Finland, where he was attending a seminar. Finland's Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said the EU stood ready to send troops to southern Lebanon if needed. But he stressed the need for both sides to commit to a ceasefire. "The international community has a firm common position: violence must stop, rocket attacks must stop, abducted soldiers must be released, Israel has the right to defend itself but its reactions are disproportionate," Vanhanen said. The bloc's aid commissioner, Louis Michel, stressed the gravity of the humanitarian situation and called for the opening of safe routes to get the aid to displaced people. In Brussels, his spokesman Amadeu Altafaj listed some of the concerns. "The European Commission is particularly concerned by the serious problems of access for the humanitarian workers, problems to get access to the victims, problems to evaluate the situation on the grounds, the needs, problems to get visas even, security problems, so for instance we have 2 ECHO experts that are trying to reach the area but are still trying to get into Lebanon." Once formally approved the aid can arrive in 48 or 72 hours, and will be given to United Nations and non-governmental organisations. It could be increased if necessary, Altafaj told a news conference. Barroso said the aid was given to express EU "solidarity with the civilians who are suffering from this terrible conflict". Sixty-three Lebanese civilians were killed in air strikes on Wednesday, the deadliest toll in the nine-day war triggered by Israel's retaliation against Hizbollah's July 12 capture of two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border operation.

ITN Source | July 20, 2006

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