Finland supports Lebanon’s response to COVID-19

The Embassy of Finland in Beirut is closely following the developments relating to the COVID-19 outbreak in Lebanon and wants to support Lebanon in these exceptionally challenging times. As an immediate response, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland is announcing one million Euros in new assistance to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Lebanon.

The Embassy of Finland in Beirut is closely following the developments relating to the COVID-19 outbreak in Lebanon. The Embassy congratulates the Government of Lebanon for its swift and active response in responding to the pandemic as well as the Lebanese working towards mitigating the spread of COVID-19 by following government instructions.

Finland is listening carefully to needs and requests expressed by the Government of Lebanon and other partners, also during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government of Finland wants to support Lebanon in these exceptionally challenging times. Finland will do this by working together and in coordination with its various partners already active on the ground in Lebanon.

As an immediate response, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland is announcing one million Euros in new assistance to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Lebanon. These funds are directed through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the work of the Lebanese Red Cross. This new assistance is in addition to Finland’s existing humanitarian and development assistance to Lebanon.

“COVID-19 is a global crisis of preparedness and prevention. It is important to ensure that it will not also develop into a global crisis of recovery. We have decided to channel additional support through IFRC to the Lebanese Red Cross which is in the frontline together with the national healthcare system in tackling the outbreak, said Finland’s Ambassador to Lebanon Ms. Tarja Fernández.

Finland has also contributed eight million Euros to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund CERF this year. CERF has provided substantial support for the COVID-19 pandemic response in Lebanon (2.1 million USD so far).

Finland is supporting humanitarian needs in the region caused by the Syria crises.  These programmes through various UN and other organisations will continue adjusted to current COVID-19 related challenges.

 

For more information, please contact Deputy Head of Mission Anna Savolainen +961 71 533 998