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Canada promises $37M in humanitarian aid for civilians in Lebanon

  • Dylan Robertson

  • Canadian Press

  • March 12, 2026

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand, centre, stands with Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade Yasir Naqvi, left, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Lena Metlege Diab, Secretary of State (International Development) Randeep Sarai and Liberal MP Faycal El-Khoury as they listen to questions after announcing federal aid for nations affected by the war in the Middle East in the Foyer of the House of Commons in Ottawa on Thursday, March 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

OTTAWA -- The Carney government is promising more than $37 million in humanitarian aid for civilians in Lebanon caught in the crossfire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand announced the aid today alongside Randeep Sarai, secretary of state for international development.

The funding will go through United Nations agencies and the Red Cross to provide food, medical services, shelter and clean water.

The UN says nearly 700,000 people in Lebanon have been displaced by the hostilities that started in late February when the U.S. launched its war against Iran, which Israel joined.

Israel and Hezbollah blame each other for the renewed hostilities and Ottawa says both sides must de-escalate while respecting Lebanon's territorial integrity.

Before the recent surge in violence and the Israeli airstrikes on Beirut, Lebanon was already grappling with an economic crisis and waves of missile exchanges between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2026.