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

The European Commission is launching a new Humanitarian Air Bridge operation for those most in need in Syria, to deliver emergency healthcare and other essential supplies, as well as increasing its humanitarian funding, Report informs, citing the European Commission.

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “The collapse of the Assad regime offers new hope for the Syrian people. But this moment of change also carries risks and brings hardship. With the situation on the ground so volatile, our help to the people of Syria is ever more important. This is why we have increased our humanitarian funding for this year, to more than €160 million. We are also launching a humanitarian air bridge carrying vital supplies, such as food, medicines and shelter items. I will be further discussing the delivery of humanitarian aid in my meeting with President Erdogan on Tuesday. We stand with the people of Syria.”

EU-funded aid flights will bring a total of 50 tonnes of health supplies from EU stockpiles in Dubai, to be transported to Adana, in Türkiye for distribution across the border in the coming days. A further 46 tonnes of health, education, and shelter items from another EU stockpile in Denmark will be trucked to Adana and provided to UNICEF and the World Health Organization for distribution within Syria.

The Commission has also mobilized an additional €4 million to address the most urgent humanitarian needs of people, bringing total humanitarian support to €163 million in 2024.

This new funding aims to scale up humanitarian assistance channeled through EU humanitarian partners already operating in Syria to ensure critical aid is provided swiftly. This includes the provision of trauma kits, support of critical gaps in healthcare facilities, emergency shelter kits and sanitation support. It also includes funding for the distribution of food parcels to 61,500 people in northern Syria.

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