Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Ottawa — The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for la Francophonie and Official Languages, and the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, today announced that Canada is assisting with cleaning up an oil spill off the coast of Lebanon and with the recovery of the country's fishing sector.

"Canada is responding to the needs of the people in Lebanon, who are now trying to rebuild their lives," said Minister Verner. "We must act immediately to limit the impact of the spill on the environment and to help those who are dependent on the fishing sector rebuild their livelihoods."

The Government of Canada will, through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), provide $2 million to the United Nations Development Programme's Early Recovery Initiative for Lebanon. Canada has also sent an environmental expert from Environment Canada to the region to assist with the oil spill response and is funding the use of a helicopter to survey the affected area.

"Canada intends to play an active role in supporting Lebanon's early recovery, stabilization and reconstruction," said Minister MacKay. "This is an important initiative that will help Lebanon in assessing the environmental impact that this conflict has had on its coastal areas. We are glad that we can be a part of this United Nations Environmental Programme assessment mission."

Canada's assistance will support the clean-up of the oil spill off the coast of Lebanon, including its disposal according to international environmental standards. The Government of Canada will also help restore the fishing sector by providing communities with nets and engines, repairing damaged boats and ports as well as rebuilding the Fisheries Cooperative and the fish market in Ouzaai, Lebanon.

The money for this latest announcement will be drawn from the $25 million Lebanon Relief Fund, which is in addition to the $5.5 million allocated earlier for humanitarian assistance. Canada's total emergency aid to Lebanon is over $30 million.