A Canadian humanitarian organization says its key water-aid truck was bombed in Gaza this week, and the federal government now says it has contacted the Israeli government for “more information” on the incident.
Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday evening that the government reached out to Israel after hearing that the truck operated by the International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF) had been bombed.
“The rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for Palestinian people is critical. Upon hearing that IDRF Canada’s water truck had been bombed, my office reached out to them and we have contacted the Israeli government for more information on the incident,” Hussen said, calling attacks on humanitarian aid workers and operations “unacceptable.”
The response comes after the aid agency called on Ottawa to mount a full investigation into what it believes was a “targeted” incident. The IDRF, a registered non-profit based in Toronto, told CBC News that the incident is believed to be the first bombing of a Canadian aid truck during the current war in Gaza.
“It’s hard not to see this as further targeting of the international aid community,” Zeina Osman, the IDRF’s director of impact, told CBC News on Friday night. The organization wouldn’t say outright if it believes the Israeli military was responsible and is calling on the Canadian government to investigate.
IDRF chief operating officer Nabil Ali wants the Canadian government to investigate after the charity’s primary water aid truck was bombed in Gaza.
The truck was bombed in the early hours of Wednesday morning, the relief agency said. It was parked outside the Tuffah district in the northern part of Gaza at the time, and was clearly marked with the organization’s name and a maple leaf, it added.
CBC News asked Global Affairs Canada how it will ensure that information from Israel on the incident is accurate and whether it will provide its own investigators. Hussen’s office did not address those questions in its response.
The incident came just over two weeks after Israel admitted that it mistakenly struck a World Central Kitchen convoy, killing seven aid workers, including dual Canada-U.S. citizen Jacob Flickinger.
IDRF chief operating officer Nabil Ali said Friday that the agency had notified Global Affairs Canada about the bombing but had not received a response at the time.
“We’re looking for the Canadian government’s support,” he said. “At a minimum, the government has to … investigate what happened to understand exactly how this could happen to a Canadian aid agency providing services on the ground.”
In response to Hussen’s post, the agency replied on X that it awaits the report from the Israeli government.
CBC News has contacted Israel’s Ministry of Defence for comment.
Ali said the aid truck had been out Tuesday delivering water. When IDRF workers returned to it Wednesday morning, they found it had been destroyed, he said.
“It was a shock to the whole team, and we’re very, very thankful that no one on our team was hurt by it. But it really has shaken us up and we’re really worried about what the future holds for us right now,” he said.
“We would question why a water tank that provides clean drinking water was bombed. It makes absolutely no sense.
“The basics of humanitarian principles are not being upheld and that’s a real issue.”
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called on the federal government to “demand an independent investigation and real accountability” following the incident.
“This cannot continue and it cannot be normalized,” he said in a post Saturday on X, formerly Twitter.
Liberal MP Sameer Zuberi threw his support behind that call in a post on X Saturday evening, though the federal government itself had not yet commented.
“An independent investigation is needed. Humanitarian organizations must never be targets,” he said in part.
As of last week, Canada would not say if it is still pursuing further investigations into the airstrike on the World Central Kitchen convoy. Global Affairs has not responded, nor has it said whether it wishes to involve its own investigators in any probe, or to have direct access to the Israeli soldiers involved.
Singh’s call for Canada to act echoed that of NDP foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson a day earlier.
“A Canadian charity’s water truck was bombed in Gaza. Attacks on humanitarians continue. @MelanieJoly, what actions are you taking to end this horror?” she said on X.
Ontario Liberal MP Salma Zahid also commented on X, calling the incident “disappointing and devastating news.”
“Water is life, and access to clean drinking water is a life-saving issue for millions in Gaza. Humanitarian groups like @IDRFcanada are doing vital work and all parties to conflict have an obligation to ensure their protection.”
Late last month, the top United Nations court ordered Israel to open more land crossings to allow supplies including food, water and fuel into the war-ravaged enclave, where 2.3 million civilians — more than half of whom are estimated to be displaced by the fighting — face crippling shortages of necessities.
The International Court of Justice issued two new so-called provisional measures in a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of acts of genocide in its military campaign in Gaza, launched after the deadly Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.
Israel stringently denies it is committing genocide. It says its military campaign is one of self-defence and urged the court not to issue new orders.
Ali said the water truck was paid for entirely from Canadian donor dollars, and that thousands will be without water as a result of the bombing.
“That truck was a staple in providing people with clean drinking water on a daily basis,” he said.
The relief agency said on X that over the last six months, the truck delivered clean drinking water to tens of thousands, “serving as a lifeline” in northern and central Gaza.
It also said it will continue to operate, albeit with smaller tanks, which will make delivering aid more difficult — and reiterated calls for an “immediate and lasting ceasefire.”
“This incident shows the dangers that humanitarian workers face every day. It’s not the first time aid workers have been targeted in this crisis, and sadly, it may not be the last,” it said.
“We refuse to accept a reality where delivering life-saving aid comes at such a devastating cost.”
PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – RCMP say the body of a second person has been found inside their vehicle after a road washed away amid pouring rain on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Police say two vehicles went into the Sarita River when Bamfield Road washed out on Saturday as an atmospheric river hammered southern B.C.
The body of the other driver was found Sunday.
More coming.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday’s provincial election.
The party says in a statement that its two newly elected MLAs, Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Botterell, support Furstenau’s leadership as they “navigate the prospect of having the balance of power in the legislature.”
Neither the NDP led by Premier David Eby nor the B.C. Conservatives led by John Rustad secured a majority in the election, with two recounts set to take place from Oct. 26 to 28.
Eby says in a news conference that while the election outcome is uncertain, it’s “very likely” that the NDP would need the support of others to pass legislation.
He says he reached out to Furstenau on election night to congratulate her on the Greens’ showing.
But he says the Green party has told the NDP they are “not ready yet” for a conversation about a minority government deal.
The Conservatives went from taking less than two per cent of the vote in 2020 to being elected or leading in 45 ridings, two short of a majority and only one behind the NDP.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio is making a difference, 4,175 kilometres away from home.
The 32-year-old Canadian international midfielder, whose parents hail from Colombia, has been working with the Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization, a charity whose goal is to help disadvantaged youth in the South American country.
Osorio has worked behind the scenes, with no fanfare.
Until now, with his benevolence resulting in becoming Toronto FC’s nominee for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which honours an MLS player “who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community” during the 2024 season.”
Other nominees include Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
The winner will be announced in late November.
The Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization (CCCO) is run entirely by volunteers like Monica Figueredo and Claudia Soler. Founded in 1991, it received charitable status in 2005.
The charity currently has four projects on the go: two in Medellin and one each in Armenia and Barranquilla.
They include a school, a home for young girls whose parents are addicted to drugs, after-school and weekend programs for children in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, and nutrition and education help for underprivileged youth.
The organization heard about Osorio and was put in contact with him via an intermediary, which led to a lunch meeting. Osorio did his due diligence and soon got back to the charity with his decision.
“It was something that I wanted to be a part of right away,” said Osorio, whose lone regret is that he didn’t get involved sooner.
“I’m fortunate now that to help more now that I could have back then,” he added. “The timing actually worked out for everybody. For the last three years I have donated to their cause and we’ve built a couple of (football) fields in different cities over there in the schools.”
His father visited one of the sites in Armenia close to his hometown.
“He said it was amazing, the kids, how grateful they are to be able to play on any pitch, really,” said Osorio. “But to be playing on a new pitch, they’re just so grateful and so humble.
“It really makes it worth it being part of this organization.”
The collaboration has also made Osorio take stock.
“We’re very fortunate here in Canada, I think, for the most part. Kids get to go to school and have a roof over their head and things like that. In Colombia, it’s not really the same case. My father and his family grew up in tough conditions, so giving back is like giving back to my father.”
Osorio’s help has been a godsend to the charity.
“We were so surprised with how willing he was,” said Soler.
The TFC skipper has helped pay for a football field in Armenia as well as an ambitious sports complex under construction in Barranquilla.
“It’s been great for them,” Figueredo said of the pitch in Armenia. “Because when they go to school, now they have a proper place to train.”
Osorio has also sent videos encouraging the kids to stay active — as well as shipping soccer balls and signed jerseys their way.
“They know more about Jonathan than the other players in Colombia,” Figueredo said. “That’s the funny part. Even though he’s far away, they’ve connected with him.”
“They feel that they have a future, that they can do more,” she added. “Seeing that was really, really great.”
The kids also followed Osorio through the 2022 World Cup and this summer’s Copa America.
Back home, Osorio has also attended the charity’s annual golf tournament, helping raise funds.
A Toronto native, he has long donated four tickets for every TFC home game to the Hospital for Sick Children.
Vancouver’s Berhalter was nominated for his involvement in the Whitecaps’ partnership with B.C. Children’s Hospital while Montreal’s Sirois was chosen for his work with the Montreal Impact Foundation.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
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