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Government of Canada matches $8 million in donations made by Canadians to respond to Beirut explosion
FILE: Aftermath of the explosions, showing the destroyed grain silos to the left and the flooded blast crater to the right (Photo By Mehr News Agency, CC BY 4.0)
August 27, 2020 – Beirut, Lebanon – Global Affairs Canada
Canadians have shown time and again how generous they can be in times of need. This willingness to help when a crisis strikes is why the Government of Canada announced that it would match donations made by individuals to help the Lebanese people following the devastating explosion in Beirut on August 4.
Meeting with Lebanese, Canadian and international humanitarian partners today in Beirut, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that the Government of Canada will match, dollar for dollar, the full $8 million in donations made through the Lebanese Matching Fund as a result of the generosity of Canadians. These funds help meet essential food, water, health and other critical humanitarian needs.
Global Affairs Canada will transfer the funds to the Humanitarian Coalition, which will in turn allocate the funds among its members based on criteria such as their capacity and presence on the ground.
Officially hosted in Lebanon by his counterpart, Charbel Wehbe, Minister Champagne met with Michel Aoun, President of Lebanon, and with representatives from the United Nations, the Lebanese Red Cross, and other civil society organizations. He also spoke with family members of the two Canadians killed in the explosion.
Quotes
“Through the Lebanon Matching Fund, Canada is making a meaningful contribution to the humanitarian effort on the ground in Beirut, which will help ensure critical aid goes to those who need it most. I commend the individual Canadians who donated so generously to support the Lebanese people in a time of great crisis.”
– François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs
“As Canadians, we consistently act with compassion and kindness when disaster strikes around the world. The incredible response and support for the people of Beirut is yet another prime example of this. Thanks to the generosity of Canadians, the Humanitarian Coalition will be able to ensure that people on the ground get the help they need. We are all interconnected; what happens over there affects us here too and helping others is the right thing to do.”
– Karina Gould, Minister of International Development
Quick facts
- On August 8, 2020, the Government of Canada launched the Lebanon Matching Fund, announcing that it would match up to $2 million in donations. This amount was quickly surpassed, and a new matching amount of $8 million was established.
- Canada’s Humanitarian Coalition brings together leading humanitarian organizations to provide Canadians with a simple and effective way to help during international humanitarian disasters.
- The Humanitarian Coalition members are Action Against Hunger, Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Canadian Lutheran World Relief, CARE Canada, Doctors of the World, Humanity & Inclusion, Islamic Relief Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam Québec, Plan International Canada, Save the Children Canada and World Vision Canada. All are recognized and trusted international partners.
- Members of the Humanitarian Coalition actively participate in established UN-led humanitarian coordination processes to ensure that aid is disbursed effectively.
