Global Affairs Canada (GAC) has allocated $10 million in funding for humanitarian aid for civilians in Lebanon.
The government announced this on Sept. 28, expressing “deep concern” over the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“With the funding announced today, Canada’s partners will be able to scale up their efforts to help people in urgent need,” Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen said in a news release.
GAC stated that the conflict has displaced more than 90,000 people since early September.
This funding announcement brings the total humanitarian assistance amount to Lebanon to $37 million for the year 2024, according to GAC.
The funding will cover food, water, emergency healthcare (including sexual and reproductive healthcare), protection services, and other forms of assistance to the region.
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Following Ottawa’s call for a 21-day ceasefire along the Lebanon–Israel border to seek a diplomatic resolution, Israel conducted further attacks on Lebanon on Sept. 27 in an effort to eliminate Hezbollah terrorists.
On Sept. 28, Hezbollah confirmed the death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in one of the Israeli airstrikes.
Israel had initially reported Nasrallah’s death on Sept. 27 in strikes on Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut.
These actions are part of Israel’s broader military offensive against Hezbollah’s operations, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, where he pledged to continue combating Hezbollah until they pose no threat.
GAC stated that it is closely monitoring the situation in Lebanon.
In May, Canada provided $65 million in international assistance to Lebanon, including $27 million for humanitarian aid and $38 million for development assistance. Additionally, in 2023, Canada offered $31.68 million in humanitarian aid to Lebanon.
GAC has been facilitating the booking of seats on commercial flights for Canadians seeking to depart Lebanon. However, this is not an evacuation, but rather a precautionary measure as the government prepares a potential mass evacuation plan for Canadians in Lebanon.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly previously noted that approximately 45,000 Canadians were in Lebanon, with only half having registered with the embassy in Beirut.
The Canadian Press, Katabella Roberts, and Simon Veazey contributed to this article.
