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The United States will give Lebanon an additional 140 million dollars to assist Syrian refugees and the communities hosting them, the State Department said on Wednesday in Beirut during a state visit by the Lebanese Prime Minister.
Lebanon is hosting no fewer than 1.5 million Syrian refugees who have fled the over six-year conflict, next door, and now make up about a quarter of Lebanon’s population.
“This grant means the US has given Lebanon more than 1.5 billion dollars in humanitarian assistance since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2012,’’ a State Department statement said.
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri met US President Donald Trump recently.
Trump said the US would continue to support the Lebanese army in its fight to stop Islamic State and other militant groups gaining a foothold inside the country.
The US money will be used for food, shelter and medical assistance for Syrian refugees and Lebanese host communities.
“It will also support water and wastewater infrastructure projects,’’ the State Department said. (NAN)
