BEIRUT, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Italy on Tuesday donated 1.7 million euros (1.9 million U.S. dollars) to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) for its health services provided to Syrian refugees in Lebanon, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.
"We highly appreciate the generous Italian donation for our medical care program at the UNHCR given the huge need by the agency for support to cover healthcare services offered to Syrian refugees in Lebanon," Mireille Girard, UNHCR representative in Lebanon, was quoted as saying by the NNA.
Girard made the remarks during a signing ceremony held at the Italian Embassy in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Italian Ambassador to Lebanon Massimo Marotti said his country is aware of the great efforts by the Lebanese government to host this big number of Syrian refugees.
"Italy will continue supporting the UNHCR in its help for Syrian refugees in Lebanon," he added.
The UNHCR aims at covering about 73,000 Syrian refugees with healthcare while Italy is funding healthcare services for around 3,000 people.
More than 1 million Syrian refugees are registered with the UNHCR in Lebanon, while the Lebanese government estimated the true number of Syrians in the country at 1.5 million.
