BEIRUT: The Cabinet approved a treasury loan Thursday to the state organization that aids Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and pledged to support the country’s police force in carrying out its duties.

“The Cabinet agreed to allocate a loan to the Higher Relief Committee (HRC) to secure the essential needs of Syrian citizens,” Information Minister Walid Daouk told reporters following the Cabinet meeting at the Grand Serail.

He added that the treasury loan is LL2 billion.

The HRC announced last month that it had halted the dispensing of aid to Syrian refugees in north Lebanon due to a lack of funds. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Medical Corps have been covering the costs of life-saving medical care.

The UNHCR estimates that around 34,000 Syrians receive aid while thousands more have entered the country but have not sought help.

Daouk also said that ministers agreed to give the Internal Security Forces a government loan in order to “guarantee that they continue to carry out their security duties.” Daouk did not specify the loan’s amount.

The ministers, whose agenda included 57 items, also agreed to strive to stimulate the tourism sector as well as create a memorial stamp for late veteran journalist and former minister Ghassan Tueni.