In a new initiative that aims to support Lebanon in the aftermath of the massive August 4th explosion, the Canadian government will match donations made by Canadians to support the afflicted country.
In a Saturday press conference, International Development Minister Karina Gould announced the launch of the “Lebanon Matching Fund,” for donations collected directly from Canadians.
Every dollar donated by a Canadian to their country’s Humanitarian Coalition and its members between August 4th-24th will be matched by the federal government, doubling the impact of each donation, up to a maximum of $2 million, Gould said.
The said coalition is a fundraising body whose member-NGOs respond collectively to cases of humanitarian crises.
“The Humanitarian Coalition will then allocate resources to member organizations that are well-placed to get timely, life-saving assistance to the people affected,” the official added.
The funds will be used by these organizations to provide food, shelter, water, and healthcare to individuals in Lebanon affected by the devastating blast.
“I encourage Canadians to donate to the Lebanon Matching Fund, to help save lives and meet the urgent needs of the affected population,” Gould declared, noting that the best way to help is by donating money to the coalition or its members.
This step is part of the commitment that Canada made when it pledged, earlier this week, a total of $5 million in relief, including an initial $1.5 million that will go directly to the Lebanese Red Cross through its Canadian counterpart.
Gould finally stated that Canada will continue to monitor the situation in Lebanon to determine the best way to offer its assistance.
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