Canada pledges $50m aid to Lebanon and condemns Israeli ‘unlawful invasion’

Canada's secretary of state for international development, Randeep Sarai, visited Lebanon to announce new humanitarian aid, condemning what he called Israel's "unlawful invasion" of Lebanon.

Key points

• Home to a sizeable Lebanese diaspora, Canada has given Lebanon concerning $575m in assistance previously 10 years, Sarai noted.
• Sarai additionally met Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
• In late July, the Lebanese Armed Forces accused Israel of obstructing its efforts to take over control of security in southern Lebanon.
• The war has killed more than 4, 000 individuals and has caused widespread destruction throughout Lebanon.
• "Our commitment is long-term, and we're there for Lebanon, " remarked Sarai, who visited shelters housing residents displaced by the war and Syrian refugees during his visit.

During his visit, Sarai stated that Beirut should govern its own space. He additionally unveiled new programmes Canada is launching to backing Lebanese families affected by the conflict, raising its total assistance to Lebanon this year to more than $50m.

Against the backdrop of the escalation between Israel and Lebanon in March, Canada cautioned on March 25 that Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity "must not be violated" and strongly condemned intends by Israeli forces to occupy southern Lebanon.

As part of the US-mediated framework agreement signed in late June, "pilot zones" were designed to return small areas in southern Lebanon from Israeli forces to the Lebanese army.

In practice, the war has killed more than 4, 000 individuals and has caused widespread destruction throughout Lebanon. The United Nations notes that concerning 360, 000 individuals are displaced as of the latest conflict.

Sarai additionally met Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. This person promised to reinstate state authority throughout Lebanon and to implement reforms to fight corruption.

Israeli authorities stated they will not pull out of Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed.

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