LEB/ EU MOBILISES ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR LEBANESE COMMUNITIES HOSTING SYRIAN REFUGEES

The European Commission has announced a package of €21 million in additional financial assistance for Lebanon to mitigate the impact of the Syrian refugee crisis in the country. This support, which comes under the Support for Partnership, Reforms and Inclusive Growth (SPRING) programme for 2013, will in particular, benefit hosting communities in the regions most affected by the influx of Syrian refugees.
 
The new EU support will aim to reduce tensions caused by health and environmental hazards (e.g. mitigating the consequences of the massive concentration of different sorts of rubbish, polluted water, etc.) and to revive the local economy and create job opportunities for vulnerable groups. This will be achieved by upgrading solid-waste-management capacities and through improving the productivity of small-scale sustainable agriculture.
 
“The EU clearly understands that it is crucial to support not only Syrian refugees, but also communities hosting them. In its response to mitigate consequences of the Syrian crisis to Lebanon, the new support will contribute to relieve the current pressure by upgrading solid-waste management municipal services and also by boosting local initiatives to create jobs,” stated Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle.
 
The newly adopted assistance package consists of two programmes:
 
   - The first one, worth €7 million, will focus on helping local economies in Lebanese hosting communities to recover by providing livelihoods and job opportunities in the agricultural sector through the improvement of the productivity of small-scale sustainable agriculture. Among others the project will support the implementation of agricultural infrastructure projects that will improve irrigation distribution and quality of water and will provide individual farmers with business advisory services. The project will also assist them in designing business plans, preparing cash flow projections and loan applications for a specific Fund.
 
   - The second one, worth €14 million, aims to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of Solid Waste Management in the areas of
     Lebanon most affected by the influx of Syrian refugees. It will increase and improve waste disposal services and enhance the overall
     management of local administrations in the Solid Waste Management sector...(link)