10 countries urge protection of aid workers in Lebanon amid worsening crisis

Canada and nine other countries issued a joint statement Tuesday expressing deep concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Lebanon and calling for protection for aid workers.

“Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Switzerland and the United Kingdom remain deeply concerned by the worsening humanitarian situation and displacement crisis in Lebanon," the countries said.

While welcoming the ceasefire agreed between the US, Israel and Iran, they called for "an urgent end" to hostilities in Lebanon.

The coalition emphasized that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected under international law and issued a warning about the 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.

“We condemn in the strongest terms actions that have killed UN peacekeepers and significantly increased the risks faced by humanitarian personnel in southern Lebanon," the statement said.

The signatories called for accountability for violations of international law, saying justice is critical for maintaining the integrity of humanitarian operations.

"Meaningful accountability and justice are critical for violations of international law that harm humanitarian personnel or impede their activities,” the statement said.

The joint declaration referenced the September 2025 launch of a global initiative, the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, signed by more than 100 countries, aimed at strengthening protections for aid workers in conflict zones.

The countries pledged to continue coordinating efforts to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers, 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."

Israel and Lebanon agreed to hold direct negotiations after Tuesday talks in Washington mediated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

The talks, the first direct diplomatic engagement between the two countries in more than 30 years, came as Israel continues an air and ground offensive in southern Lebanon, killing more than 2,000 people and displacing a million others. Israel began striking Hezbollah after the group retaliated to US-Israeli attacks on Iran in early March.