Canada pledges $37.7M in aid to Lebanon as Israel-Hezbollah War deepens humanitarian crisis

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai said the funding will provide urgent relief, including food, shelter, medical care and clean water for communities affected by the fighting.

“Canada stands in solidarity with the people of Lebanon,” Anand said. “As violence displaces families and disrupts essential services, humanitarian needs are growing.

The funding announced today will help our partners provide urgent support, including shelter, food, clean water and medical supplies for those affected.”

Canada said the assistance will be delivered through humanitarian partners such as the United Nations, the Red Cross and other non-governmental organisations to ensure aid reaches civilians in need.

The announcement comes as Lebanon faces a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation.

Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions and retaliatory rocket attacks have intensified since the broader regional confrontation involving Israel and Iran escalated, leaving civilians caught in the crossfire.

Israeli strikes have hit parts of Beirut and southern Lebanon, with authorities reporting hundreds of casualties and widespread destruction of infrastructure.

More than 800,000 people have been displaced as evacuation orders spread across the country, reported Reuters.

Aid groups warn that the conflict has disrupted essential services and access to medical care across parts of Lebanon.

Hospitals and primary healthcare centres have been forced to close due to security threats and evacuation orders, while humanitarian agencies report severe shortages of food, shelter and medical supplies.

According to United Nations agencies, nearly 700,000 people in Lebanon have already been forced from their homes, including around 200,000 children, as the fighting intensifies.

Secretary of State Randeep Sarai said the crisis is worsening by the day, underscoring the need for rapid humanitarian support.

"The rapid escalation of the crisis in Lebanon is deeply concerning, and humanitarian needs are growing more acute with each passing day," Sarai said.

"Canada is acting swiftly to ensure that urgent and life-saving assistance reaches the families and communities who need it most," Sarai added.

Ottawa also called on all parties involved in the conflict to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and to pursue de-escalation.

Canada said a lasting solution to tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border would require the disarmament of Hezbollah, in line with the Lebanese government’s position, to restore state authority and allow displaced people on both sides of the border to return home safely.

The federal government said it will continue monitoring the situation closely and working with humanitarian partners to respond to the evolving needs of civilians as the regional conflict unfolds.