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<p><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">July 28, 2006 (2:50 p.m. EDT)</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">No. 89</span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">GOVERNMENT OF CANADA RESPONDS TO UN APPEAL FOR
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE OF LEBANON</span></span></p>
<br>
<p>The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency, and the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of
International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages,
today announced Canada’s response to the UN Flash Appeal, which was launched
earlier this week, for humanitarian assistance to the people of Lebanon. The
Government of Canada, through the Canadian International Development Agency
(CIDA), is providing $5 million to UN agencies in response to the Appeal.</p>
<br>
<p>“The evolving situation in Lebanon is of great concern to the Government of Canada
and has far-reaching impacts on the civilian population,” said Minister MacKay. “A key
part of Canada’s contribution to the UN Flash Appeal for Lebanon will be to support the
logistics and coordination activities of humanitarian agencies in carrying out programs
to feed and shelter civilian populations caught in the conflict. Ensuring safe and
unimpeded access for humanitarian personnel is critical.”</p>
<br>
<p>“I am very concerned about the civilian population in Lebanon, who are enduring
tremendous hardship as a result of the current situation,” said Minister Verner. “This
humanitarian assistance will provide people with food, primary health-care services,
access to drinking water and sanitation and hygiene support—in other words, the basic
necessities of life.”</p>
<br>
<p>For more information on Canada’s development and humanitarian assistance in the
Middle East, please visit CIDA’s website at <a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221104043/http://www.cida.gc.ca/"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.cida.gc.ca</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000">.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000">- 30 -</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada<br>
613-995-1874<br>
</span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221104043/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000"> </span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Pascale St-Pierre<br>
Press Secretary<br>
Office of the Minister of International Cooperation<br>
819-953-6238</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office<br>
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)<br>
819-953-6534<br>
</span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221104043/http://www.cida.gc.ca/"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.cida.gc.ca</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000"></span></p>
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