Date: May 8, 2019 Source: The Daily Star UNHCR, Italian Embassy pledge nearly $2M to support refugee health care BEIRUT: Italy and the U.N. refugee agency have signed an agreement to provide around $2 million in support of secondary health care for Syrian refugees in Lebanon, according to a joint statement issued Tuesday. The $1.9 million agreement was signed Monday by Italian Ambassador to Lebanon Massimo Marotti and UNHCR’s Representative in Lebanon Mireille Girard in an event held at the Italian Embassy. During the ceremony, Marotti acknowledged the Lebanese government’s efforts, adding that Italy would continue supporting the UNHCR’s aid policy and its vision to prioritize vulnerable people. The statements said that since 2012, Italy has been supporting UNHCR operations in Lebanon with over $13 million in aid. Girard thanked Italy for the contribution, which she said came amid a lack of funds for refugee health care. “This generous Italian contribution towards UNHCR’s health care program is very welcome at a time when there is a critical funding gap in Lebanon to meet the essential hospital care needs of refugees, who are more vulnerable than ever," she said. The UNHCR said in its statement that it aimed in 2019 to support "access to lifesaving hospital care for some 73,000 refugees, over 3,000 of whom will be funded thanks to ... Italy's vital support."