A displaced man feeds his baby with a bottle in front of a family tent in an unofficial camp set up along the Beirut waterfront, on April 1, 2026. (Credit: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP)
BEIRUT — The Netherlands has unlocked a 13.5 million euro aid package for Lebanon, according to a statement released Thursday, following a phone call between President Joseph Aoun and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten.
"The escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has severely affected Lebanon. More than 1.1 million people have been displaced and the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. The Netherlands stands with Lebanon in these difficult times," the statement said.
This aid is divided into two parts:
- 6.5 million euros in humanitarian aid for Lebanon via the Dutch Relief Alliance (in response to the Lebanon Flash Appeal), as well as the Dutch and Lebanese Red Cross. This amount is in addition to general funding for the U.N. Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
- 7 million euros in support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, to strengthen their efforts to extend state authority across the entire Lebanese territory.
Rob Jetten emphasized that this support complements the Netherlands' longer-term development cooperation programs, which support Lebanon and its people, particularly the most vulnerable populations.
The war, which resumed on March 2 between Hezbollah and Israel, has forced more than 1.1 million people to seek refuge in so-called safe areas. Cabinet, has increased pressure on Hezbollah by declaring its security and paramilitary activities illegal and demanding its disarmament by all means.
