Halifax teens raise $40K for humanitarian aid in Lebanon

A group of teens in the Halifax area has been fundraising and spreading awareness in support of Lebanon, where over one million people have been displaced due to conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. 

Watching the conflict from afar, 15-year-old Lebanese-Canadian Jude Chedrawy wanted to do what he could. That's when he came up with HeartForLebanon HRM. 

"These people … they don't deserve this, right? It's very inhumane and I believe that there needs to be something done about this cause," said Chedrawy, a Grade 10 student at Sacred Heart School of Halifax.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect on Wednesday, but the devastation continues as both sides accuse each other of violating the agreement. 

During more than a year of fighting, tens of thousands of Israelis have had to escape their homes in northern Israel due to rocket attacks by Hezbollah, while approximately 1.2 million Lebanese people have fled from Israeli air strikes and a ground invasion of the country's south. 

Since early October, Chedrawy's organization has raised nearly $20,000 through online donations in an effort to provide relief. The federal government, in partnership with the Canadian Red Cross, has agreed to match those contributions.

"I'm happy that I'm able to help my home, my country, my people," said Chedrawy.

All of the money will go toward the Canadian Red Cross humanitarian needs fund for Lebanon, which provides shelter, food, water, medical assistance and other essentials. 

A spokesperson for the Red Cross said they are grateful to community organizations that support their work. 

Samuel Bassil is one of several other students working with Chedrawy.

Bassil, 15, also has loved ones in Lebanon. He visits every summer, but his family cancelled their trip this summer for safety reasons.

"It hurts to see, cause you see people your age taken out of their homes, or living in the streets, or not able to go to school," he said. "It's very heartbreaking.… We're blessed here to live in Canada where it's peaceful, but over in the Middle East it's not." 

Bassil is not surprised at how much the group has been able to accomplish so far. He said anything is possible with hard work and determination.

"We're just trying to help those who are suffering," said Bassil. 

For Chedrawy, his 12-year-old cousin who lives in Lebanon is top of mind. He said his cousin is safe, but he often sends text and photo updates of what's going on throughout the country. 

"It's just heartbreaking seeing someone like him needing to deal through this, or needing to worry about air strikes on a daily basis," said Chedrawy.