August 19, 2020 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
As the situation on the ground in Beirut following the August 4, 2020, explosion continues to be critical, the urgent, immediate needs of Lebanese and other affected communities are becoming clearer. The UN has launched an emergency appeal on behalf of 300,000 people; almost half of the appeal’s funding will go to food assistance. Currently, as many as a million people need health support and almost 300,000 need shelter assistance. Concerted and quick humanitarian action is required to help those impacted by the blast, including by providing them with health care, food, shelter and water.
The Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of International Development, today announced that the Government of Canada will allocate $13.5 million of its funding in response to the explosion to UN humanitarian agencies and the Lebanese Red Cross. It will also increase its contribution to the Humanitarian Coalition’s Lebanon Matching Fund by up to $3 million, bringing the government’s total potential contribution to $8 million. Together, this funding will support a range of humanitarian activities and a timely, effective and coordinated humanitarian response.
With today’s announcement, Canada has allocated $20 million of the $30 million in humanitarian and development assistance earmarked to respond to the devastation the explosion caused. Canada continues to monitor the situation and remains in close contact with partners on the ground to determine the best way to distribute the remaining funding.
Global Affairs Canada
www.canadiandays.ca
