Statement on Lebanon from US Secretary of State Blinken

As Israel's attacks on Lebanon cause a new humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, a statement regarding aid to the region has come from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

In a written statement, Blinken announced that the US will provide approximately 157 million dollars in new humanitarian aid to support the population affected by the conflicts in Lebanon and the region.

Noting that the aid in question will be used to meet the needs of displaced Lebanese people and the communities hosting them, as well as to support those who have fled to Syria, Blinken stated, "This life-saving assistance from the American people includes approximately 82 million dollars made immediately available through the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, and 75 million dollars provided by the US Agency for International Development's (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance."

IT WILL BE CRITICAL LIFE SUPPORT

Noting that USAID, which has already provided 11.5 million dollars in aid to the region, plans to provide an additional 63.5 million dollars in the coming weeks, Blinken said, "This emergency food, shelter, blanket, hygiene kit, and water assistance will be a critical life support for those enduring unimaginable hardships."

Reminding that the US provided approximately 386 million dollars in aid last year to support vulnerable populations affected by the increasing conflicts in Lebanon and Syria, Blinken stated, "The US is committed to helping those in vulnerable situations in Lebanon and across the region. We call on other donors to join us in contributing to these new humanitarian needs."