Netherlands pledges aid to Lebanon for refugees and war crimes probes

During a visit to Lebanon, Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sjoerd Sjoerdsma announced a multi-faceted aid package to address the humanitarian and infrastructural consequences of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

The Netherlands is allocating 7 million euros to support the reception of Lebanese displaced persons and Syrian refugees through the PROSPECTS program, managed by UNHCR and UNICEF. This funding aims to provide shelter and access to emergency education.

Additionally, 11 million euros will be provided over the next four years to support the Lebanese government in water management and the repair of water infrastructure damaged during the conflict. To address legal accountability, the Dutch government is also dedicating 1.2 million euros to assist in investigating and documenting alleged violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, with 450,000 euros of that amount directed to the United Nations Human Rights Office in Lebanon (OHCHR).