Canada adds $15M to aid for Lebanon and will match $6M in donations

The $15 million in new funding comes on top of $10 million in aid announced by Hussen at the end of September.

Canada is adding another $15 million to its humanitarian aid package for Lebanon after an escalation in the conflict between Israel and the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah.

International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen says the new money will help Canadian and international aid groups provide food, water, emergency health care and other assistance in Lebanon, though the exact allocations are yet to be determined.

"This conflict is taking a terrible toll on civilians in Lebanon and beyond," Hussen said at a press conference on Wednesday.

"As of today, Canada has committed $25 million to support humanitarian response to assist the most vulnerable civilians in Lebanon."

The $15 million in new funding comes on top of $10 million in aid announced by Hussen at the end of September.

He said $6 million of the previously announced money will be split between the Red Cross and the Humanitarian Coalition, to match up to $3 million each in donations made to their individual Lebanon aid campaigns.

As well, $4 million will be split between the UN Refugee Agency and the World Food Program.