Departure ceremony for the dispatch of humanitarian aid to Lebanon (27.09.2021)

As in August 2020, when Greece was the first to arrive in Beirut, just 18 hours after the devastating explosion, so now our country has responded immediately to the international appeal for humanitarian aid to Lebanon.

As instructed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs mobilized the private sector and coordinated the efforts to collect the aid provided by Greek enterprises, which generously demonstrated their solidarity with the people of Lebanon.

The responsibility for the implementation of this action, upon instructions from the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias, was assumed by the Directorate General for Development and Humanitarian Aid, under the supervision of the Deputy Minister for Economic Diplomacy Kostas Fragogiannis, while the Embassy of Lebanon in Athens and our Embassy in Beirut contributed significantly to this end.

Basic necessities sent by the Ministries of National Defence and Health were added to the Humanitarian Aid provided by the Greek enterprises.

It is worth noting that this endeavour of our country took place in the middle of a difficult summer, while the Greek enterprises responded immediately and generously even though the Greek economy and society were being hit by natural disasters.

A total of 417 pallets were collected with food, water, baby food for infants and children, personal hygiene items, consumables for protection against Covid-19, medicine as well as medical and hospital items. Significant quantities of military equipment, clothing and spare parts were also sent to the Lebanese Armed Forces.

On September 27, a small ceremony for the hand-over of the humanitarian aid took place at the Kanellopoulos Naval Base. At the invitation of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kostas Fragogiannis, the Deputy Chief of Defence, Vice Admiral Ioannis Drymousis, the Secretary General of International Economic Relations and Openness, Mr. Ioannis Smyrlis, the Managing Director for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Mr. Alexandros Diakopoulos and the Charge d’ Affaires of the Lebanese embassy in Athens, Mrs. Rania Abdallah attended the ceremony.

The aid will be transported to Beirut by the landing ship “LESVOS”.