Do you have a presence in Lebanon?
Yes, Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada has been working in Lebanon for several decades. We have been in contact with our long-standing partners in Lebanon and the region throughout this year, and in the aftermath of the Israeli bombing campaign that began on September 23, 2024.
Currently, Caritas Lebanon and two other allied organization that we partner with are assisting vulnerable Lebanese people by providing:
- Reception services
- Financial aid
- Food
- Medical and psychosocial services
- Services and training to help protect women and children in centers for internally displaced persons
- Services to help homeless persons prepare for winter
- Educational sessions and resources for young people
- Spaces for dialogue and inter-community solidarity
How can I make a donation?
As a member of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, we are participating the Humanitarian Coalition’s Lebanon Emergency Appeal. This means that donations for Lebanon made until November 3, 2034, will be matched dollar for dollar by the Government of Canada, up to a maximum of $ 3 million.
There are several ways to give:
- By credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express)
- Securely on our website
- By calling 1 888-234-8533 toll-free
- By cheque or money order
- Please make cheques or money orders payable to Development and Peace and mail them to:
Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada
555 René-Lévesque Blvd. West, 8th Floor
Montreal, Quebec H2Z 1B1
Please write Lebanon Emergency at the bottom of the cheque.
- Please make cheques or money orders payable to Development and Peace and mail them to:
What is the situation on the ground?
Having raged unabated for decades, armed conflict in southern Lebanon and northern Israel has been exacerbated by the now year-long war in Gaza. September 18 and 19, 2024, marked the intensification of the conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah, following the mass detonation of electronic devices that caused thousands of direct and indirect casualties predominantly in the Shiite regions and districts of Lebanon.
Then, Israel began a bombing campaign on September 23 that is now affecting diverse populations (urban, rural, Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian) in Beirut and many other towns and regions. The consequences are disastrous for the civilian population, resources and infrastructure, threatening people’s lives and forcing families to flee their homes and country.
Israel’s air and ground offensive has already had disastrous consequences in Lebanon and Prime Minister Netanyahu has openly threatened the Lebanese people that they may face the same fate as Gaza. The UN has deplored the fact that more children have been killed since the start of the current conflict than were killed the last time Israel went to war in Lebanon in 2006. More than 1 million civilians have already been displaced by the violence. In addition, Israel’s intense airstrikes are destroying crops and farmland and setting forests afire.
How can Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada can help Lebanon?
By donating to Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada, you will support smaller, more local organizations that are more directly connected with the people they serve and that have a better understanding of local cultures and contexts.
As we usually do in such emergencies, we are working collaboratively and in solidarity with these local organizations. Our strength lies in our approach of supporting the work of local aid and solidarity organizations who prioritize the most vulnerable populations.
Where does my donation go?
Your donation goes directly to our Lebanese partners who are on the frontline right now, providing immediate assistance, identifying needs and continually updating priorities on the ground. They are focused on helping the most vulnerable people who are most affected by the current situation.
How will my donation be used?
Your donation will help us consolidate our programs and support the essential presence of our partners among many civilian populations in situations of vulnerability. It will enable us to help a greater number of people and partner organizations that work in the all the diverse Lebanese regions affected by the conflict.
How much of my donation goes to administration costs, and how much to the crisis?
Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada charges a 5 per cent administration fee on emergency donations. This covers the costs involved in responding to an emergency, such as fundraising, operating donation phone lines, recording donations, sending receipts, accounting, financial control, etc.
All charities levy such a fee, and our rate of 5 per cent is one of the lowest in the sector.
Who are your partners?
Our principal local partner is Caritas Lebanon, with whom we have been working for decades. Most recently, they provided exemplary services to the people of Beirut in the aftermath of the 2020 port explosion.
We also work with other, smaller local agencies, all of which are well-established and reputable All our partners in Lebanon, like our partners everywhere, have a proven record of knowing, reaching, accompanying, serving and being trusted by the most vulnerable peoples.
I want to organize a fundrising event. How can you help me?
The best thing to do is to get in touch with your local animator, who will be able to tell you what’s going on in your area. Our animators’ names and contact details are available on our website.
If you organize a local fundraising activity, it’s best to send the funds in a single cheque made out to Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada (Lebanon Emergency). It is also very important to provide us a list of donors, their contact details and the amount of their donations, so that we can issue their tax receipts.
