Dutch pledge $92 million for humanitarian aid

Holland said it is giving Lebanon €80 million ($92 million) to assist in handling the Syrian refugee crisis.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said: “For 2016 and 2017 we allocated a total of 260 million euros ($300 million) for countries hosting Syrian refugees.” The Netherlands would give 40 million euros ($46 million) in 2016 and the rest in the year after. “The Netherlands currently supports Lebanon on the issue of monitoring the border,” he said.

An agreement was also signed between the Dutch Center for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries, the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), and the local Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture. It seeks to develop Lebanese export products, specifically agricultural goods, to support sustainable development.

“This agreement will pave the way for cooperation between the public and private sectors in Lebanon and the Netherlands,” Prime Minister Tammam Salam, who met with the Dutch delegation, said. “The cooperation particularly focused on specific support for development programs and a funding project aimed at reducing unemployment and poverty and combating burdens resulting from the presence of 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon,” he said.

“What we are doing is helping the UNHCR here with money and support to improve living conditions, but also, we hope we can collectively work on the situation in Syria so people can go back,” said Rutte.