Lebanon Emergency Appeal
→ Why is the Humanitarian Coalition launching an appeal to support Lebanon at this time?
There is a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the making in Lebanon. Since the launch of the latest offensive, thousands of Lebanese residents and Syrian refugees who had previously fled to Lebanon have lost their homes and estimates indicate that a million people have been forcibly displaced. The Coalition’s member agencies have assessed the humanitarian need and are calling for an immediate ceasefire. Action must be taken to protect children and other non-combatants who have played no role in the conflict.
→ Why is the Government of Canada matching donations to the Humanitarian Coalition’s fundraising efforts?
The federal government has previously agreed to match donations when the Coalition has launched fundraising efforts to support relief efforts in humanitarian emergencies around the world. The most recent examples include the Gaza Humanitarian Emergency in October 2023, the Türkiye Syria earthquakes in February 2023 and the Pakistan Floods in 2022. The matching program means that every donation made by groups and individuals in Canada has double the impact and provides more support for people in need.
→ The Humanitarian Coalition is appealing for immediate support in Lebanon. What are the member agencies doing right now to provide humanitarian aid?
All humanitarian agencies that are members of the Humanitarian Coalition are currently supporting relief efforts in Lebanon and have established local partnerships with aid agencies in the country. Coalition members have a combined total of more than 500 staff in Lebanon and have more than 180 years of cumulative experience working in the country. Our members have identified a number of immediate needs to support the affected population, including mattresses, pillows, blankets, ready to eat meals bottled water and hygiene supplies, which will be purchased using money donated by Canadians.
→ Does the Humanitarian Coalition support Hezbollah and its efforts to attack Israeli citizens and destroy property in Israel?
The Coalition and its member agencies are deeply alarmed by reports that Israeli citizens and foreigners, including children, were attacked. Under no circumstances are civilians to be treated in a cruel or harmful manner. The Humanitarian Coalition condemns all acts of violence against civilians in the strongest terms.
→ Doesn’t providing help to people in Lebanon provide support for Hezbollah and its efforts against Israel?
The Coalition’s efforts are motivated by international humanitarian law, which does not support collective punishment of non-combatants in any conflict situation. Millions of people living in Lebanon, particularly children, are in no way connected to the causes of the current conflict, but are bearing the brunt of the response to them from the Israeli military. As humanitarians, we are motivated by our desire to help those in need who, through no fault of their own, find their lives and families in danger due to conflict.
→ Why is the Coalition not providing help and support to children and families in Israel who are also suffering as a result of Hezbollah’s actions?
Israel, a high-income country, has a strong social safety net that provides support to people in need as well as a robust capacity to protect its citizens in conflict situations. Lebanon does not have this capacity, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has identified an urgent need for safe shelter, healthcare, food and cash assistance for those affected by the conflict.
→ But shouldn’t some aid be provided to Israel to live up to the principles of humanitarian equality and international law?
International NGOs, such as members of the Humanitarian Coalition, have rules that require governments, such as Israel, to request international assistance when a humanitarian crisis threatens to overwhelm their domestic resources. No such request for international assistance has been made by the Israeli government. We cannot unilaterally impose ourselves in such situations.
→ Why is the Coalition not providing help and support to children and families in Israel who are also suffering as a result of Hezbollah’s actions?
Israel, a high-income country, has a strong social safety net that provides support to people in need as well as a robust capacity to protect its citizens in conflict situations. Lebanon does not have this capacity, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has identified an urgent need for safe shelter, healthcare, food and cash assistance for those affected by the conflict.
→ How can we be assured that funds donated by Canadians will reach people in need in Lebanon, as opposed to being used by the Hezbollah to fund more attacks on Israel?
The Humanitarian Coalition is made up of independent humanitarian aid organizations that are not aligned with any political parties or groups. Our primary aim is to get vital aid to innocent families in this crisis. Our members adhere to and abide by the International Committee of the Red Cross’s code of conduct and go to great lengths to ensure that funding does not come from or go to any parties that would breach this code. Our goal is to ensure that those most in need get vital humanitarian assistance as quickly as possible, and the only way this is possible in contexts like Lebanon is by ensuring that we remain both impartial and neutral.
→ Last year, the Humanitarian Coalition asked Canadians to contribute to relief efforts for Gaza, which was facing a serious humanitarian crisis due to Israeli military action. Yet the situation there remains dire with thousands of people facing starvation and homelessness. What happened to all the money that was raised for the Gaza appeal and why is the situation there still so grave?
We were grateful that Canadians responded so generously to our 2023 appeal for Gaza. The ongoing military conflict in the area continues to make humanitarian access to Gaza extremely difficult as border crossings that would allow aid to flow freely remain closed. Our member agencies remain committed to providing assistance to people in need in Gaza and are working with trusted local partners to provide food and other supports as conditions allow. Learn more about our activities in Gaza and the West Bank here.
→ The damage and loss of life caused by the recent hurricanes in the southern United States is severe and millions of people have lost access to water, power and food. Shouldn't the Humanitarian Coalition be launching a fundraising effort to help people in the U.S. right now?
The damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton is indeed severe and our thoughts are with all of those people who have been affected by these devastating storms. We're thankful that the U.S. has robust disaster response programs at the local, state and national levels, which are already in action to help people in the affected areas. Many of the U.S. counterparts of the Humanitarian Coalition's member agencies are already engaged in their own disaster relief efforts in Florida and the southeastern states. In contrast, Lebanon has a very limited capacity to deal with the rapid increase in the number of refugees and displaced people and support from countries like Canada is needed now to prevent a major humanitarian crisis. We're counting on Canadians to respond generously to our appeal, while also sharing their concerns about the situation south of the border.
Donations and receipts
→ Is my donation to the Humanitarian Coalition eligible for a donation receipt?
Yes. All donations over $10 are eligible for a donation receipt.
→ How do I go about making changes or canceling my monthly donations?
If you wish to make a change to your monthly donation, including changing your credit card number, expiry date, amount of donation or any personal information, you can reach us toll-free at 1-855-461-2154 extension 101, or by email at info@humanitariancoalition.ca. It is strongly recommended that you do not share your credit card information by email.
→ When will I receive my donation receipt?
Online donations are processed automatically, so you should receive your receipt within hours, at the email address you provided. (Please allow 24 hours for potential delays). Sometimes receipts are sent to the junk mail folder, so please make sure to check there. Donation receipts for phone and mailed-in donations are processed within a month of the donation, so please allow up to two months for delivery.
→ Why is it better to donate online?
When you send your donation online it is both cheaper and faster to process. You will receive your receipt sooner and we save the cost of printing and mailing it to you. By donating online, you are saving the Humanitarian Coalition as much as $2 per donation!
→ Can I make a cash donation?
The Humanitarian Coalition does not accept cash donations. Cash should never be sent by mail nor brought to our offices. If you are an event organizer and wish to submit your event proceeds, please use your personal credit card to submit online, write a personal cheque, request a bank draft or create a money order for the amount raised.
→ Can I donate to the Humanitarian Coalition in any currency?
Donations are only accepted in Canadian dollars.
→ Can I donate to the Humanitarian Coalition on behalf of someone else?
Yes. When you make your donation online, you will have the option of making your donation in honour of or in memory of someone. You can also send an e-card to the recipient of your choice. If you are donating by mail, please send an email to info@humanitariancolaition.ca with the name, message and contact information of the recipient you would like an acknowledgment sent to.
→ Can I give money to a specific member of the Humanitarian Coalition through your website?
Funds donated to the Humanitarian Coalition are pooled together and distributed following a pre-approved fund distribution formula. Should you wish to donate specifically to one of our member agencies, you may do so by contacting them directly.
→ How can I make sure I receive correspondence in the official language of my choice?
Your language of choice is automatically set by the language in which you make your donation. For example, if you make a donation from the English version of the Humanitarian Coalition website, you will receive correspondence in English. If you wish to change your language of correspondence, please send a request to info@humanitariancoalition.ca
During a crisis
→ Are you accepting goods such as blankets, food, clothes, etc.?
The Humanitarian Coalition does not accept donated goods. Financial contributions are more efficient and effective. Your donations allow us to purchase much needed supplies closer to those areas affected, thereby reducing heavy transportation costs, supporting the local economy as it gets back on its feet and ensuring that the goods we provide are appropriate to the needs of local recipients.
→ Can I adopt or sponsor a child from one of the affected areas?
The Humanitarian Coalition is a fundraising and coordination body, which supports its members’ humanitarian efforts and does not directly operate any programs overseas. For information on child sponsorship programs, please visit our members websites and contact them directly.
→ I’ve tried to donate during a crisis, but couldn’t get through on the phone. Why?
As you can appreciate, during a crisis, our call volumes can be very high. The best course of action would be to leave a message and someone will call you back shortly. Another option would be to make a donation online.
→ What happens if there are funds left over from the humanitarian relief operations?
As soon as the Humanitarian Coalition member agencies are satisfied that they can meet the immediate needs of people affected by a humanitarian crisis, fundraising will stop. In almost all cases, the needs of people affected by disasters far surpass our ability to fundraise. Any funds not used for immediate disaster relief will go toward medium-term recovery and reconstruction projects.
→ When I give money to the Humanitarian Coalition, where does it go?
All funds sent to the Humanitarian Coalition are distributed to the members in order to meet the basic needs of those persons affected by a humanitarian disaster. The funds will serve to buy food and blankets, provide shelters and clean water to those most vulnerable during and after a crisis. A small percentage of the funds donated go to maintain the administrative capacity of the Humanitarian Coalition.
→ Do Humanitarian Coalition members receive funds if they do not operate in a disaster area?
Only member agencies with operational capacity already in place in or near a disaster zone will receive funds from your donations. This is to ensure that donations reach those in need as quickly as possible. Member agencies implementing humanitarian programs are familiar with local communities, customs and suppliers are the ones who can respond the most quickly and appropriately.
General Information
→ What is the Humanitarian Coalition?
The Humanitarian Coalition is a fundraising and coordination body, which supports its members’ humanitarian efforts and does not directly operate any programs overseas. We are a network of leading Canadian NGOs determined to unite our efforts in cases of humanitarian crises. The Humanitarian Coalition has twelve members: Action Against Hunger, Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Canadian Lutheran World Relief, CARE Canada, Doctors of the World, Humanity & Inclusion, Islamic Relief Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec, Plan International Canada, Save the Children Canada and World Vision Canada. For more information, check out the How We Work section of our website.
→ Why do the Humanitarian Coalition members choose to act together?
The members of the Humanitarian Coalition unite because they recognize the need for strong, decisive action, as well as early mobilization, to help the most vulnerable. By combining resources from each member agency, the Humanitarian Coalition takes the guesswork out of giving for Canadians, and reduces the wasteful duplication of fundraising costs. The Humanitarian Coalition has set a target of not absorbing more than 15% of the funds raised in administrative and fundraising costs. When lives are at stake, the Humanitarian Coalition’s appeals have one call centre, one phone number and one joint website. This makes for a much more timely response. It saves more lives. To learn more, please visit the How We Work section of our website.