Canadian official condemns Israel’s 'unlawful invasion' and announces new aid to Lebanon
- Canada’s secretary of state for international development, Randeep Sarai, said Israel’s presence in southern Lebanon was an "unlawful invasion."
- Sarai visited Beirut to announce new Canadian humanitarian programs for Lebanon and said the total aid this year has exceeded C$71 million.
- The United Nations says about 360,000 people remain displaced in Lebanon because of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war.
- Canada has criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Lebanon while also designating Hezbollah as a terrorist organization and condemning its attacks on Israel.
- Sarai met Lebanon’s president and prime minister and said Canada supports reforms and efforts to restore state authority across the country.
Canada’s top international development official in Beirut sharply criticized Israel’s military presence in southern Lebanon, calling it an "unlawful invasion" and saying Lebanon should control its own territory. Randeep Sarai made the comments during a visit tied to a new aid announcement.
Sarai said Canada is launching three new programs in Lebanon to help vulnerable families and women. With the latest additions, Canada’s aid to Lebanon this year is more than C$71 million, according to the official.
The trip came as Lebanon continues to deal with the effects of the Israel-Hezbollah war. The United Nations says hundreds of thousands of people remain displaced, and large areas in southern Lebanon have been heavily damaged.
During the visit, Sarai also met Lebanon’s president and prime minister and spoke about support for reforms and state authority. He said Canada is also working to help create conditions in Syria that would allow more refugees to return safely.
加拿大官员谴责以色列对黎巴嫩的“非法入侵”并宣布新的援助
加拿大负责国际发展事务的高级官员在贝鲁特公开批评以色列在黎巴嫩南部的军事存在，称其为“非法入侵”，并表示黎巴嫩应当掌控自己的领土。Randeep Sarai是在宣布新的援助措施期间作出上述表态的。
Sarai表示，加拿大正在黎巴嫩启动三个新的项目，帮助弱势家庭和妇女。随着这些新项目加入，加拿大今年对黎巴嫩的援助总额已超过7100万加元。
此次访问发生在黎巴嫩继续承受以色列与真主党战争影响之际。联合国称，仍有数十万人流离失所，黎巴嫩南部大片地区遭受严重破坏。
访问期间，Sarai还会见了黎巴嫩总统和总理，并谈到对改革和国家权威恢复的支持。他说，加拿大也在努力帮助叙利亚形成安全条件，让更多难民能够安全返回。