The European Commission has announced an additional €10mn in humanitarian aid for people in Lebanon affected by the ongoing escalation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, it said in a statement on September 30.

More than 700 people have been killed across Lebanon over the past week, including 14 paramedics, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported. Israeli attacks have killed hundreds in Lebanon since last week, the deadliest day since the country's 1975-1990 civil war, killing several top Hezbollah officials, including its leader Hassan Nasrallah on September 28.  

The emergency funding, announced on Monday, aims to address the most pressing needs, including protection, food assistance, shelter, and health care for those impacted by the conflict.

"The EU stands ready to provide further support by mobilising all available emergency response tools, including via use of the Civil Protection Mechanism," the Commission said in a statement.

This latest allocation brings the total EU humanitarian aid to Lebanon in 2024 to €74 million, targeted at helping vulnerable populations in the country.

The announcement of emergency funds comes as European foreign ministers will hold emergency talks on September 30 on the situation in Lebanon.

The announcement comes as tensions continue to rise in the region following recent clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. The EU's swift response underscores the growing humanitarian concerns in Lebanon as the conflict intensifies.

European officials have emphasised their commitment to supporting civilians caught in the crossfire and mitigating the humanitarian impact of the escalating situation.

UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi said well over 200,000 people are displaced inside Lebanon and more than 100,000 have fled to neighbouring Syria with many of the Hezbollah militants taken out over the past week.

Several top Hezbollah officials have since been replaced since the killing of several people in the group, with its new leader Hashem Safieddine voted in on September 30.

Born in 1964 in Deir Qanoun Al Nahr, southern Lebanon, Safieddine has been a key figure in Hezbollah for nearly three decades.

Designated as a global terrorist by the United States in 2017, Safieddine has increasingly appeared at Hezbollah events in recent years, often replacing Nasrallah due to security concerns.