Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne will arrive in Beirut Thursday to talk to President Michel Aoun about Canadian support to Lebanon following the Beirut Port explosion.
The state-run National News Agency reported Sunday that Champagne is making the visit to show Canada’s solidarity “with the Lebanese people.”
The Canadian minister will convey to Aoun Canada’s readiness to contribute to the rebuilding of the port and in particular those parts that were destroyed, the NNA reported.
Aoun will reportedly tell Champagne about Lebanon’s technical needs in that regard.
Champagne will also meet with caretaker Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbe as well as "Lebanese, Canadian and international humanitarian partners to witness the work of first responders," a Canadian government press release said.
"The Minister will take this opportunity to highlight Canada’s ongoing support for the international response to the crisis in Lebanon, including institutional reforms demanded by the Lebanese people," it added.
Two Canadian nationals were killed in the port explosion along with at least 179 others, according to the Canadian government.
Canada has so far provided around $5 million in humanitarian assistance to Lebanon in the immediate aftermath of the blast.
It later announced an allocation of an additional $25 million “to help trusted partners address immediate humanitarian needs and support efforts for early recovery.”
“Continued provision of humanitarian assistance, including food, water and sanitation, shelter and medical assistance, is essential to address the immediate needs of the affected people,” the Canadian government said in a statement.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
