The Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development), concluded his visit to Lebanon and Jordan to strengthen humanitarian response efforts, support refugees, expand inclusive economic opportunities and build resilient communities.
اضافة اعلان
During the visit, Secretary of State Sarai announced almost $80 million in international assistance funding for Lebanon and Jordan, helping address urgent humanitarian needs while advancing human rights, inclusive economic opportunity and food security across the region.
While in Lebanon, Secretary of State Sarai met with Joseph Aoun, President of Lebanon; Nawaf Salam, Prime Minister; and Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Parliament, to discuss mutual priorities for humanitarian response and recovery efforts, regional security, economic development and legislative reforms.
Secretary of State Sarai travelled to Tyre, in southern Lebanon, where he met with displaced families at a UN Women-supported shelter and heard directly about the challenges of displacement, how they are supporting their families and their aspirations to return home.
Secretary of State Sarai also met with Syrian refugees in the Bekaa Valley and heard first-hand accounts of displacement, protection concerns, humanitarian needs and perspectives on voluntary and dignified return home and integration. He met with entrepreneurs at Go Baladi, a Lebanese women-owned and -led dairy enterprise, and toured its production facility to see first-hand how Canada’s support is helping local women grow their businesses, participate more fully in the economy and create jobs in their communities.
With World Vision Canada’s local partner, the Imam Sadr Foundation, he visited a facility where conflict-affected people receive psychosocial support and other essential services. He concluded with a stop at a Lebanese Red Cross health and emergency response centre, where he heard from the staff and volunteers about their harrowing experiences delivering essential health and humanitarian services to conflict-affected communities, putting their lives on the line. Secretary of State Sarai reinforced the need for humanitarian workers to be protected in conflict zones and for international humanitarian law to be upheld by all parties.
While in Jordan, Secretary of State Sarai met with Zeina Toukan, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation; Ambassador Dhaifallah Ali Al-Fayez, Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates; and His Royal Highness Prince Rashid bin El Hassan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization.
He engaged in discussions with Canadian and Jordanian development partners on Canada’s support for humanitarian efforts and refugee response, economic reforms, as well as measures to increase women’s and youths’ labour force participation. He was also welcomed into a home-based child-care nursery supported by the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) through Canadian funding, where he met with the nursery owner and children to see how the initiative is helping expand access to quality child care while supporting women’s economic empowerment in Jordan.
Secretary of State Sarai visited a World Food Programme logistics warehouse that facilitates the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza and Lebanon, including Canadian-funded relief supplies. The visit highlighted the importance of opening all crossings into Gaza and the urgent need to facilitate the rapid and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance. He also met with evacuees from Gaza and their families, who receive care through the Jordan Medical Corridor Initiative to hear about their experiences. These visits reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to delivering life-saving assistance to people affected by the crisis in Gaza, including through close cooperation with partners such as Jordan.
Secretary of State Sarai concluded his trip to Jordan at the Zaatari Refugee Camp, one of the world’s largest camps for Syrian refugees, where he recognized Jordan’s leadership in hosting displaced populations and reaffirmed Canada’s support for refugees.
Secretary of State Sarai’s visit to the Middle East reinforces Canada’s steadfast commitment to providing sustained humanitarian aid and response efforts in the region that help the most vulnerable and those affected by ongoing crises, while underlining the importance of international engagement for greater regional security and stability that benefits everyone.
