Canada is adding another $15 million humanitarian aid package to its funding for Lebanon following the escalation of conflict between Israel and the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah.
International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen says the new money will help Canadian and international aid groups provide food, water, emergency health care and other aid in Lebanon, although exact allocations have not yet been determined.
“This conflict is taking a terrible toll on civilians in Lebanon and beyond,” Hussen told a news conference.
“As of today, Canada has committed $25 million to support humanitarian efforts to help the most vulnerable civilian population in Lebanon.”
The new $15 million in funding comes on top of the $10 million in aid Hussen announced in late September.
He said $6 million of the previously announced funds would be split between the Red Cross and the Humanitarian Coalition, matching up to $3 million each in donations made to individual aid campaigns in Lebanon.
In addition, $4 million will be split between the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees and the World Food Program.
Canada is also sending humanitarian items from its stockpile, including 5,000 blankets and 1,000 hygiene kits.
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Hussen said more than 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon, including two Canadians, and thousands of civilians have been injured.
The conflict has put significant pressure on local humanitarian organizations, he added.
Hussen said Lebanon was in urgent need of food, medicine, shelter materials and emergency health care.
Global Affairs Canada says more than 1,150 Canadians, permanent residents and their immediate family members have left Lebanon on government-chartered flights. It is said to have also helped about 250 people from other countries leave Lebanon.
The agency says it is currently receiving fewer than 100 new requests a day for departure information, and that all eligible travelers have been offered departure, have departed or are likely to depart in the coming days.
According to Global Affairs Canada, 205 people left Lebanon on Monday and Tuesday.
As of Oct. 8, more than 25,000 Canadians were registered in Lebanon, but the government said the true number may be higher because registration is voluntary. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly previously said there were about 45,000 Canadians in the country.
On Wednesday, Hussen again called on Canadians to leave Lebanon.
A spokesman for Immigration Minister Marc Miller said the current focus is on helping Canadian citizens and permanent residents, as well as their spouses with children, obtain the documents they need to travel.
“Additionally, we are prioritizing processing certain types of permanent residence applications in the family class,” spokeswoman Renée Proctor said in an emailed statement.
