In compassionate response to recent events, the Canadian government has committed to matching donations to the Humanitarian Coalition, aiming to aid Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank. The initiative forms part of a wider humanitarian drive, specifically serving the Palestinian segment of the population affected by the ongoing conflict in the region.
The Canadian government, voicing its commitment clearly, declared plans to match, dollar-for-dollar, every donation made within a specified period. This timeframe, extending from October 7th to November 12th, has an ambitious objective – to raise and match donations up to a sum of $10 million.
Asserting Canada’s philanthropic ethos in a statement, International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen said, “Canadians believe in helping others in times of need. As a government, we know we have more to do to support Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank.” He continued, “This is why we are joining forces with Canadians to support our partners on the ground that are providing urgent, life-saving assistance to those hardest hit by the humanitarian crisis.”
The support would address a plethora of needs in the afflicted area, including child protection, providing shelter, and ensuring emergency food and nutrition, in addition to required water, sanitation, health and medical services.
Global Affairs, the governmental body overseeing the initiative, assures strong procedures and scrutiny to ensure aid reaches its intended recipients and not the hands of Hamas.
Simultaneously, the Humanitarian Coalition, composed of Canada’s 12 largest international humanitarian agencies, applauds the federal government’s decision, expressing fervent hopes that everyone will unite in easing the burden borne by innocent civilians entangled in the conflict.
The financial resources to match these donations will be drawn from the $50 million in humanitarian aid funds declared by the federal government in October. In addition to the matching-donations campaign, the government has also pledged another $10 million in aid.
The grim context of these philanthropic efforts is underscored by the sobering figures emanating from the conflict that ignited on October 7th. With Hamas, classified as a terrorist entity by Canada, launching attacks on Israel, the fallout has been devastating. Thousands have perished, and more than 7,300 Palestinians alone have lost their lives in Gaza, with more than 1,500 women and over 3,000 minors counted among the tragedies.
Despite the conflict, Israel and Egypt have maintained a blockade on Gaza since 2007, even as Israel plans a ground invasion of Palestinian territory, further highlighting the crisis facing civilians in the area.
