May 15, 2009
Ottawa (Ontario) – The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, today marked the one-year anniversary of the Burma Cyclone Relief Fund. This fund was created to match donations of individual Canadians to Canadian charitable organizations working to assist populations affected by Cyclone Nargis, which caused widespread devastation in Burma.
“Thanks to the generous response of Canadians, we were able to provide immediate and effective support to the victims of Cyclone Nargis with food, equipment, household supplies, emergency shelter and clean water, all essentials for those most affected by this catastrophic disaster,” said Minister Oda.
Through various Canadian and international humanitarian organizations such as the World Food Programme, CARE Canada, World Vision, as well as many others, the contributions of individual Canadians significantly and effectively assisted in providing urgent relief.
“Thanks to the donations made by Canadians, we were able to get the necessary help where it was needed most by working with so many humanitarian organizations, " added Minister Oda. "Lives are now being restored and communities are being rehabilitated as a result of their generosity.”
The Government of Canada committed almost $26 million for critical emergency relief items. The funds were allocated to established Canadian and international humanitarian organizations undertaking relief efforts in Burma.
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Michelle Coates
Press Secretary
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: media@acdi-cida.gc.ca
Below are some of CIDA’s key partners that received funding and some of their results to date:
World Food Programme: $6,700,000
- With the support of donors like Canada, WFP delivered over 70,000 tonnes of food and reached over one million people in need of food assistance.
- WFP also provided logistical support to the humanitarian community and helped bring disaster relief supplies, equipment and food to the areas badly hit by the cyclone through a combination of helicopters, trucks and barges.
World Vision Canada: $2,300,000
- As a result of CIDA support, World Vision provided temporary shelter kits to 7,964 households (or nearly 40,000 people) in Ayeyarwady and Rangon divisions.
- Access to water and sanitation was improved for more than 8,907 households by providing them with 10 litre collapsible water containers (to 5,157 households) and household water storage containers (to 3,750 households). Additionally, 6,800 households benefited from receiving hygiene kits.
CARE Canada: $1,000,000
- In response to the cyclone, CARE implemented shelter, non-food items and water and sanitation activities in the worst affected Ayeyarwady and Rangoon divisions’ directly benefiting 45,000 individuals.
- 18,000 individuals received temporary shelter assistance, 23,000 had access to clean water, and 5,937 households (benefiting 29,680 individuals) received household kits providing families with cooking and household items such as basins, buckets, clothing, eating utensils and sleeping mats.
Action Against Hunger (ACF): $791,976
- Action Contre la Faim provided assistance to cyclone-affected households. As a result of CIDA funding, 10,435 households (over 50,000 people) in Bogale and Pyapon townships received access to water and 5,014 households (over 25,000 people) received non-food items (including basic shelter).
- This was achieved through a number of activities such as the provision of 10,435 rain water harvesting kits, the rehabilitation of 27 community ponds, provision of 360 latrines, distribution of 6,079 hygiene kits, the provision of 5,014 shelter kits, the distribution of 1,850 tool kits and the provision of 4,817 kitchen sets.
International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF): $291,000
- IDRF, with CIDA's support, assisted 73,000 people in Ayeyarwady and Rangoon divisions.
- Emergency shelter assistance was provided for 670 households (3,350 persons) and 22,960 people in 44 villages now have access to clean drinking water (97 tube wells were dug and for 10 communities water filtration tanks were built).
- In the area of health, 35,045 individuals (55% female) received treatment and medical attention for various diseases/trauma related injuries. Mosquito nets were provided to 2,383 households thereby reducing risk to Malaria for 11,917 persons.
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