UNHCR welcomes vital funds from Italy to support Health Care for Syrian Refugees in Lebanon

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and the Government of Italy signed a EUR 1.7 million (USD 1.9 million) agreement to support secondary health care for vulnerable Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

6 May 2019

BEIRUT, Lebanon 6 May 2019 (UNHCR) – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and the Government of Italy signed a EUR 1.7 million (USD 1.9 million) agreement to support secondary health care for vulnerable Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

The agreement was signed by the Ambassador of Italy to Lebanon, H.E. Massimo Marotti and the UNHCR Representative in Lebanon Mireille Girard in a ceremony at the Italian Embassy in Beirut. The Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Beirut, Donatella Procesi, also attended the event.

Mireille Girard expressed deep appreciation for the contribution noting: “This generous Italian contribution towards UNHCR’s health care programme is very welcome at a time when there is a critical funding gap in Lebanon to meet the essential hospital care needs of refugees, who are more vulnerable than ever.”

Since the beginning of the Syria crisis, Italy has been providing crucial support for Syrian refugees in Lebanon, supporting UNHCR operations in Lebanon with over USD 13 million since 2012.

Ambassador Marotti highlighted the importance of the UNHCR services in Lebanon and said: “Italy recognizes the enormous efforts of the Lebanese Government to host vulnerable refugees, and will continue to support its endeavors. Italy confirms its commitment to sustain the commendable actions undertaken by UNHCR, and the vision that places the vulnerable people at the center of its aid policy”.

In 2019, UNHCR aims to support access to lifesaving hospital care for some 73,000 refugees, over 3,000 of whom will be funded thanks to the vital support of the Government and People of Italy.

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Lisa Abou Khaled, [email protected], +961 71 880 070