Backgrounder(2005-48) News Release
Tuesday, October 18,7 2005
OTTAWA — International Cooperation Minister Aileen Carroll and Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today announced details of close to $2 million for humanitarian assistance and relief efforts in the areas affected by the earthquake in South Asia. Of this amount, more than $800,000 will go to Canadian non-governmental organizations for earthquake relief initiatives under the South Asia Earthquake Matching Fund and $1 million will respond to an appeal launched by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). This funding is within the $20 million the Government of Canada earmarked on October 10, 2005, in response to the earthquake.
"Relief initiatives are currently underway in the region, providing needed assistance to earthquake victims," said Minister Carroll. "Canada continues to respond to international appeals and the South Asia Earthquake Matching Fund is an effective way to work with key NGOs on the ground in delivering humanitarian relief."
"Canada's response has been timely, effective and focused," said Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew. "We are strongly committed to ensuring an effective and coordinated international response, and are supporting agencies that are helping to alleviate the suffering of those affected by this terrible crisis."
The funding announced today will be provided by the Canadian International Development Agency and will be allocated as follows:$1 million to the ICRC for shelter, clothing and other assistance to some 15,000 households in India and 30,000 in Pakistan. The ICRC is also establishing a field hospital near Muzzaffarabad and will airlift medical supplies into the affected areas following further assessments of needs;$420,000 to the Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) for emergency kits including drinking water, winter blankets and candles in Pakistan. AKFC will also provide temporary shelter and emergency medical services to approximately 2000 families in the region. In addition, part of the funds will be used to fuel helicopters;$400,000 to Save the Children Canada (SCC) to meet the immediate shelter and clothing needs of approximately 850 families in the Kohistan, Batagram and Mansehra districts of North West Frontier Province, Pakistan. Within the first three days of the earthquake, SCC distributed 750 tents and 1,000 family food packs to affected families in NWFP province.
Under the South Asia Earthquake Matching Fund, the Government of Canada will match all monetary donations by individual Canadians to participating Canadian charitable organizations between October 8 and October 26, 2005. To be eligible for matching, the donations to these charities must be specifically earmarked for South Asia earthquake response. Matched funds will be placed in a pool, and Canadian NGOs can submit proposals for relief and reconstruction to this pool.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2005 Federal Budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
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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
Web site: www.cida.gc.ca (electronic version of document)
Sébastien Théberge
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
Backgrounder
October 2005
Canada's Response to the South Asian Earthquake
On October 8, 2005, a major earthquake struck Pakistan. Following an initial assessment of what was needed, Canada committed $20 million to relief efforts. To encourage charitable giving, Canada will match—dollar-for-dollar—all donations by individual Canadians to registered charitable organizations for relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction in the region. Prime Minister Martin also announced the deployment of Canada's Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) in the earthquake-affected area of Pakistan. This decision followed a request by the Government of Pakistan for Canada and other donors to assess options to support relief and recovery.
Overall Canadian Response:
To date, Canada, through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), has provided:
Preliminary Response:$100,000 to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for needs assessment;$200,000 to the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives - Pakistan.
$20 million announcement:$5 million to the UNHAS/WFP to deploy two helicopters over three months;$2 million to the UNICEF for health/nutrition, water and sanitation, child protection, education, coordination, and support services;$1.75 million to the World Health Organization for assessment, disease surveillance, essential vacines, medical teams, psychosocial support, reestalishment of primary and secondary level health care services and health (obtsetric, medical and surgical) supplies, deployment of prepostioned drugs and supply kits, drugs and equipment);$1 million to the International Organization for Migration for shelter, medical evacuations, transportation/logistics support; $1 million to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies;$1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross for shelter, food and clothes assistance to cover the needs of 15,000 households in India and 30,000 in Pakistan;$700,000 to the World Food Programme for helicopter fuel and other logistical support;$400,000 for in-kind donations, including 12 000 blankets and airlift;$250,000 to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to ensure coordination of international response.
Of the $20 million earmarked, $5 million will go toward the South Asian Earthquake Matching Fund. To date, CIDA has announced the following funding:$500,000 to World Vision;$500,000 to CARE Canada;$420,000 to the Aga Khan Foundation Canada;$400,000 to Save the Children Canada;
Under this program, CIDA has created a South Asia Earthquake Matching Fund equivalent to the monetary donations made by individual Canadians to participating registered Canadian charitable organizations between October 8 and October 26, 2005. To be eligible for matching, the donations to these charities must be specifically earmarked for South Asia earthquake response.
The funds generated by matching will be made available to support qualifying relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction proposals submitted to CIDA by Canadian non-governmental organizations.
The matching system will allow the Government of Canada, in conjunction with authorities in the affected area, to target our assistance most effectively and ensure both the best use of public funds and the most positive impact in the earthquake-stricken region.
Disaster Assistance Response Team:
On October 14, 2005, the Government of Canada announced the deployment of the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) in the earthquake-affected area of Pakistan to support existing medical infrastructure by augmenting medical staff and providing potable water.
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Information: Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Telephone: (819) 953-6534
E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca
Web site: www.cida.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
