OTTAWA, 27 AUGUST 2020 – Since the explosions on August 4th that rocked the port city of Beirut, Canadians have been uniting their efforts to raise funds in order to provide emergency assistance to affected populations.
The Humanitarian Coalition, an alliance of 12 leading Canadian charities, ran a fundraising appeal with the support of the Canadian government, that pledged to match donations by individual Canadians up to a total of $8 million dollars.
The $8 million matching fund goal was achieved on August 24. As of today, including donations from individuals, corporations and foundations, the Humanitarian Coalition has raised $9.9 million, bringing the total funds available for humanitarian assistance, including the government’s contribution, to $17.9 million.
Humanitarian Coalition agencies have been at work together with local partners in Beirut since the blast, providing food, shelter, personal care items, medical care and financial support to people in need. These funds will enable relief efforts to continue and expand in a country already stretched by economic instability, a refugee crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
QUOTES
“All of us at CARE Canada are so heartened to see thousands of Canadians come together in support our friends in Lebanon. We are grateful to everyone who has provided emergency relief through generous contributions to CARE Canada, as well as to the Humanitarian Coalition and its members.
Thanks to overwhelming response of Canadians to the crisis in Lebanon, we are proud to announce that the Humanitarian Coalition has hit our $8 million goal. This will be matched by the Government of Canada, dollar for dollar. CARE will continue to respond and provide support to the people of Lebanon over the coming months. My thanks to generous Canadians and the Government of Canada; collective leadership makes this important humanitarian work possible.”
– Barbara Grantham, President and CEO, CARE Canada
“As a coalition, we strongly believe in the power of working together. The collaboration between aid agencies, the commitment of the Government of Canada, the support of corporate and media partners, and the generosity of the Lebanese community and the Canadian public will continue to rebuild lives and restore communities in the wake of this tragedy. We are so grateful for everyone’s contribution.”
– Richard Morgan, Executive Director of the Humanitarian Coalition
“Action Against Hunger is grateful for the investment made by the Government of Canada to help mobilize donations to address the challenges in Lebanon. This support allows our teams on the ground to work with local partners to provide immediate support to affected families so that they can access sufficient and diverse foods, and so that stores, markets and small businesses can reopen. We also thank Canadians, especially the Lebanese community, for their generosity, which helps us tackle malnutrition, save lives, and contribute to rebuilding strong and resilient communities in Lebanon.”
– Danny Glenwright, Executive Director, Action Against Hunger
“We’re grateful for the generous response of Canadians and the Canadian government. When the explosion destroyed Lebanon’s main port where the country imported most of their food, as well as the grain silos estimated to hold 85% of the country’s grain stocks, we were concerned about the number of families who would face hunger. Now, thanks to this generosity, our partners on the ground can ensure families have the food they need to survive and recover from this devastating explosion. The Humanitarian Coalition demonstrates what can be achieved when we work together to help families in crisis.”
– Jim Cornelius, Executive Director, Canadian Foodgrains Bank
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CARE has spokespeople available. For media inquiries, please contact:
Lama Alsafimedia@care.ca | 613-228-5641
Notes:
The following agencies are members of the Humanitarian Coalition: 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, World Vision.
While the Matching Fund period is closed, the Humanitarian Coalition will continue to accept donations for the Lebanon crisis up to September 4, 2020.
About CARE Canada:
Founded in 1945 with the creation of the CARE Package®, CARE develops solutions alongside women and girls in developing countries to lift themselves, their families, and their communities out of poverty and out of crisis. CARE stands with women and girls around the world in economic empowerment. We bring women, girls, and their communities together to challenge inequality while facing issues like food insecurity, climate change, and emergency relief in times of crisis or disaster. CARE works in 100 countries around the world.
To learn more about CARE Canada, visit www.care.ca