Canada is contributing $10 million in humanitarian aid to civilians in Lebanon as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates.
International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen announced the funding in a news release on Saturday, saying it will help provide things like food, water and emergency medical care, including sexual and reproductive health.
It said the funding is in addition to the US$10 million already allocated to the Lebanon crisis by the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, to which Canada is contributing.
Hezbollah, which Canada considers a terrorist organization, confirmed on Saturday that its leader and one of its founding members had been killed in an Israeli airstrike on the southern outskirts of Beirut.
Israel has vowed to increase pressure on Hezbollah until it halts attacks that have displaced tens of thousands of Israelis from communities near the Lebanese border.
The news release announcing Canada’s humanitarian assistance also called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire on the Lebanon-Israel border.
“The funding announced today will enable Canada’s partner countries to scale up their efforts to support people in urgent need,” Hussen said in a news release. We call for an end to the violence and for all parties to protect civilians.” and protect humanitarian workers from harm and respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. ”
Hezbollah began firing rockets at Israel in support of Gaza on October 8, a day after Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack against Israel, killing about 1,200 people and abducting another 250. Ta.
Canada continues to monitor the situation in Lebanon and remains in close contact with humanitarian partners to assess and respond to evolving needs, the statement said.
“Canada stands in solidarity with the Lebanese people affected by this conflict and is committed to providing them with the humanitarian assistance they need,” Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said in a news release.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 28, 2024.
