10 nations urge protection of aid workers in Lebanon crisis

Canada and nine other nations released a joint statement on Tuesday voicing alarm over the deteriorating humanitarian situation and displacement crisis in Lebanon. The coalition included Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Urgent end to hostilities demanded

While welcoming the ceasefire agreed between the US, Israel, and Iran, the countries called for “an urgent end” to hostilities in Lebanon. They emphasized that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected under international law and warned of growing risks facing humanitarian personnel in the region. “Attacks that threaten the safety and security of humanitarian personnel must stop. International humanitarian law must be upheld by all parties to the conflict in all circumstances,” the statement read.

Condemnation of attacks on UN peacekeepers

The signatories stated: “We condemn in the strongest terms actions that have killed UN peacekeepers and significantly increased the risks faced by humanitarian personnel in southern Lebanon.” They called for meaningful accountability and justice for violations of international law. The joint declaration referenced the September 2025 global initiative, the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, signed by over 100 countries. The nations pledged to continue coordinating efforts, saying: “We will continue working together to ensure that those who work to save the lives of others do not have to sacrifice their own.” The statement came as Israel and Lebanon held direct talks in Washington after more than 30 years, while Israeli offensives in southern Lebanon have killed over 2,000 people and displaced one million.