EU launches Humanitarian Air Bridge operation for Syria to deliver emergency supplies

The European Commission is launching a new Humanitarian Air Bridge initiative to deliver emergency healthcare and essential supplies to those most in need in Syria, while also increasing its humanitarian funding.

EU-funded aid flights will transport a total of 50 tons of medical supplies from EU stockpiles in Dubai to Adana, Türkiye, for distribution across the border in the coming days, Caliber.Az reports citing the European Commission.

An additional 46 tons of health, education, and shelter supplies from another EU stockpile in Denmark will be sent by truck to Adana, where they will be distributed by UNICEF and the World Health Organization within Syria.

In addition to these efforts, the Commission has mobilized an extra €4 million to address the most urgent humanitarian needs, bringing the total humanitarian support to €163 million for 2024.

This new funding is intended to scale up assistance provided through EU humanitarian partners already operating in Syria, ensuring that vital aid is delivered swiftly. It includes trauma kits, support for healthcare facilities, emergency shelter kits, sanitation assistance, and funding for food parcels to support 61,500 people in northern Syria.

Over the past 13 years, the EU and its Member States have mobilized more than €33.3 billion in humanitarian, development, economic, and stabilization aid, benefiting Syrians both inside the country and across the region.

14 years of war left people in Syria facing mass displacement, widespread food insecurity, crumbling infrastructure, economic decline, and preventable diseases, with some 16.7 million people in urgent need of assistance. Escalating hostilities in Lebanon also worsened the situation, pushing over 560,000 individuals to cross into Syria to flee conflict.

The impact on civilians due to the latest political developments includes displacement, deaths, and injuries. The situation remains fluid, as hostilities are ongoing in the northeast of the country and humanitarian needs multiply.

Despite many challenges, including the rapid changes in humanitarian access, the EU continues to provide impartial humanitarian aid to those in need across Syria.

By Vafa Guliyeva