BRUSSELS — The European Union has urged its member states to respond to Lebanon’s request for medical equipment and medications following the Israeli ground operation in the southern part of the country.

EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides and Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič have called on EU member states to provide medical aid to Lebanon, in a letter addressed to member states, obtained by Euronews.

The letter cites “the continued hostilities, which have put a severe strain on medical services in Lebanon.” Since 30 September, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have launched a ground operation in southern Lebanon, targeting the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The European Commission has received an official request for assistance from Lebanese authorities, highlighting the urgent need for vital medical supplies, the letter informs.

This request is being processed through the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism established in 2001, which has enhanced cooperation between EU member states and 10 other participating countries to improve disaster prevention and response.

Although Lebanon is not a member of the mechanism, any country in the world as well as UN agencies, and other international organizations can seek assistance from the EU and the 10 partners in times of emergency.

The letter stresses that Lebanon’s healthcare system is struggling to cope with the growing number of casualties, with many patients urgently requiring specialized medical treatment that is no longer available due to the destruction of healthcare infrastructure.

The EU commissioners 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 assistance is to be coordinated through national civil protection authorities and directed to the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), the operational hub of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

Since its inception, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has responded to over 700 requests for assistance globally.

In 2023 alone, it was activated 66 times, responding to crises such as the war in Ukraine, wildfires in Europe, and the earthquake in Syria and Türkiye. — Euronews