(2004-40) News Release September 20, 2004 OTTAWA -- Aileen Carroll, Minister of International Cooperation, and Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada, through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), will provide additional humanitarian assistance to the people of Grenada, Jamaica, Cuba, and other affected countries, in support of relief efforts following Hurricane Ivan. CIDA's contribution will be delivered through the International Federation of Red Cross and Crescent Societies (IFRC), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and CARE Canada. All organizations are working on the ground in the Caribbean and have established distribution systems. "Canada is concerned by the destruction and human suffering caused by Hurricane Ivan and, through our assistance, seeks to alleviate the ongoing plight of the people," said Minister Carroll. "We are confident that the expertise and experience of these partners will ensure that Canada's contribution helps meet the needs of the people in the region and assists them in their recovery." Today's total contribution amounts to $1 million and will be allocated as follows: $350,000 to the IFRC to assist in providing shelter, household items, clean water and sanitation; $250,000 to PAHO for the provision of primary and secondary health care, epidemiological surveillance for disease control, environmental health and water supply and restoring hospital services to pre-hurricane levels; $400,000 to CARE Canada for the provision of relief items and construction material for emergency shelter repairs for some 1,700 families. "Canadians have a priviledged relationship with the Caribbean and have their hearts set on providing help in difficult times," said Minister Pettigrew. "This contribution demonstrates our solidarity with the residents as they recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan's devastation." Canada immediately responded to the initial requests for assistance by providing a contribution of $550,000 in response to the preliminary appeal of the IFRC, launched on September 10, 2004. Canadian High Commissions in Jamaica and Barbados have also contributed over $165,000 towards the relief efforts of local NGOs in Jamaica and Grenada. Today's announcement brings Canada's total contribution to $1.7 million. Funding for this initiative was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. - 30 - Information: Andrew Graham Director of Communications Office of the Minister of International Cooperation Telephone: (819) 953-6238 Media Relations Office Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Telephone: (819) 953-6534 E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca Sébastien Théberge Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Telephone: (613) 995-1851 Media Relations Office Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada Telephone: (613) 995-1874
