AMERICA/CANADA - Catholic Bishops of Canada urge government to concretely express the compassion of the people of Canada towards all the evacuees particularly those in Lebanon, by setting up a substantial emergency fund towards this humanitarian crisis and to act firmly making sure this humanitarian aid is conveyed

Ottawa (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic Bishops of Canada issued a public statement on the Humanitarian Crisis in Lebanon, expressing deep concern for with massive displacement of population who now risk hunger, thirst and sickness in temporary shelters: “We ask our government to concretely express the compassion of the people of Canada towards all the evacuees particularly those in Lebanon, by setting up a substantial emergency fund towards this humanitarian crisis. We also ask the government to act firmly in making sure this humanitarian aid is conveyed". The message was signed by the president of the Canadian Bishops’ Committee for Human Rights, Archbishop Roger Èbacher of the archdiocese of Gatineau.
The Bishops call for concerted and effective international action, in order to rapidly set up a cease-fire: “Dialogue and mediation are important values of Canadian society; this particular feature of our identity should guide Canada though its intervention to help resolve the conflict". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 25/7/2006; righe 16, parole 210)