Toronto, Ontario - The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, today announced that the Government of Canada is partnering with the United Nations and Canadian and international organizations to provide much-needed additional humanitarian assistance to the people of Burma affected by the cyclone that devastated the country.
"Our government remains deeply concerned about the growing impact of the cyclone on the people of Burma and we are pleased to see Canadian aid entering the country," said Minister Oda. "We are working with the United Nations and other trusted Canadian and international organizations to provide supplementary relief efforts such as food distribution and critical shelter, health and nutrition, and water and sanitation initiatives."
This additional support will be going to trusted Canadian and international partners with direct access to the affected population. Although Canadian aid is getting through to the people of Burma, Canada will continue to urge Burmese authorities to provide full and unhindered access to humanitarian organizations to allow them to assist with the relief efforts.
Minister Oda made this announcement alongside David Morley, Chief Executive Officer from Save the Children Canada-one of the Canadian non-governmental organizations that the Government is partnering with to help the people of Burma.
"Save the Children's partnership with the Government of Canada will mean that we can extend our existing relief efforts to provide mobile health services to 90,000 people in the Irawaddy Delta," stated David Morley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Canada. "Save the Children has been operational in Burma for 13 years and has hundreds of local staff providing food, water, plastic sheeting, malaria nets, temporary safe play areas, and school tents to over 160,000 cyclone survivors."
The additional support announced today means that up to $12 million will be added to Canada's initial $2 million contribution for immediate relief efforts made on May 8, 2008 and to funds that will be raised through the Burma Cyclone Relief Fund announced last week.
- 30 -
Information:
Joanna Bailey
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Cooperation
819-953-6238
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Telephone: 819-953-6534
E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca
Sue Rooks, Communications
Save the Children Canada
1-800-668-5036 Ext: 305
srooks@savethechildren.ca
Backgrounder
Canada has now committed almost $14 million for relief efforts to help the people of Burma affected by Cyclone Nargis. This includes Canada's initial $2 million commitment made on May 8, which included the delivery of 2,000 emergency shelter kits via a Canadian Forces C-17 Globemaster aircraft, but does not include the additional funds that the Government will provide to the Burma Cyclone Relief Fund, announced on May 15th.
Canada's overall contribution can be broken down as follows:
World Food Programme (WFP)
Canada's contribution of $4.7 million will help the WFP provide emergency food aid to 630,000 people severely affected by the cyclone. WFP will also provide logistical support to humanitarian partners to gain access to isolated communities.
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Canada's contribution of $2.5 million to UNICEF will help provide a supply of safe water and prevent waterborne diseases in cyclone-affected populations. UNICEF will also provide shelter, household items, vaccines and essential drugs to those most affected by cyclone Nargis. Finally, UNICEF will focus on establishing safe environments for children and women.
World Vision Canada
Canada's commitment of $1 million will help World Vision Canada construct temporary shelters and provide water and sanitation services (water containers, water purification, latrines and hygiene promotion activities) to 6,500 families. The project aims to improve and maintain the health and physical security of these affected individuals.
CARE Canada
With Canada's support of $1 million, CARE will protect the lives and health of 50,000 beneficiaries by addressing the most immediate priorities of water, sanitation, hygiene, basic shelter and non-food items. Activities will include: the distribution of water, water purification supplies, the restoration of water supply systems, the provision of plastic sheeting, mosquito nets, blankets, and the provision of basic supplies to local health centers.
Deployment of Canadian Red Cross relief supplies
An immediate Canadian contribution of $900,000 was made to help cover the purchase, transport and distribution of 2,000 emergency shelter kits to Burma. These kits are helping to provide much-needed shelter to up to 10,000 people affected by the disaster. The shelter kits were shipped to Burma via one of the Department of National Defence's four Globemaster C-17 aircraft.
Action Against Hunger (ACF)
Canada will provide up to $800,000 to ACF to ensure access to safe water and sanitation for 7,500 cyclone-affected families. In addition, ACF will promote proper sanitation and hygiene activities to improve the overall health of these families.
Save the Children Canada
Canada's support of up to $600,000 to Save the Children Canada will provide services to 57,000 people, including 23,000 children in the Ayeyarwaddy area of Burma. Save the Children will provide boat-based medical services to remote communities in the Ayeyarwaddy Division of Burma. This mobile medical clinic will carry approximately 20 health care professionals including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and logisticians. Using emergency medical kits provided by the World Health Organization, teams on the vessel will treat approximately 400 people per day and will distribute public health information to the affected populations.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
With Canada's contribution of $600,000, this UNHCR project is expected to improve access to shelter and household items for 250,000 cyclone-affected persons in Burma. Items such as tents, plastic sheeting, mosquito nets, kitchen sets and jerry cans will help the people of Burma to establish a shelter, prepare meals, carry water, and protect themselves from malaria.
Adventist Development & Relief Agency (ADRA)
Canada's support to ADRA contributes to improved sanitation for people displaced by cyclone Nargis. Specific interventions supported by Canada's contribution of $500,000 include the construction of 1,150 latrines, 267 washing areas, 267 solid waste disposal areas, and the distribution of 5,348 hygiene kits. In addition, volunteers will be trained and mobilized to disseminate hygiene education messages.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
Canada's support to MSF will help provide 100,000 cyclone-affected individuals with increased access to safe water and basic sanitary facilities. Activities include the construction of latrines, distribution of soap and hygiene products, water treatment, and the physical protection of sources and wells. The $500,000 allocated to this project will also improve living conditions and reduce exposure of 20,000-targeted families through the distribution of plastic sheeting and other essential non-food items. Emergency medical care is another critical need, thus the project will establish mobile and fixed clinics to address basic health needs.
International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC)
Canada's first response to the Burma crisis was a contribution of $500,000 to the IFRC to help support monitoring and coordination efforts, including the mobilization of relief supplies from pre-positioned stocks, transportation and the distribution of 30,000 hygiene parcels, jerry cans, cooking sets, mosquito nets and shelter kits.
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Canada will provide $200,000 to OCHA to effectively coordinate the efforts of humanitarian partners and donors in support of the national response to the cyclone.
Burma Cyclone Relief Fund
Minister Oda announced on May 15th in the House of Commons that for every dollar donated by individual to eligible Canadian charitable organizations, the Government will match Canadians' generosity by contributing a dollar to the Burma Cyclone Relief Fund. The Canadian International Development Agency will allocate these funds to established Canadian and international humanitarian organizations who are undertaking relief efforts in Burma.
- 30 -
Information:
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency
Telephone: 819-953-6534
E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca
