February 25, 2011
Mississauga, ON--Today, on behalf of the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, Bob Dechert, Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Erindale, and Honourable Senator Salma Ataullahjan announced the Government of Canada's continued support for the more than 20 million people affected by the devastating floods in Pakistan seven months ago. Though floodwaters have receded in many parts of the country and flood-affected people are returning to their home areas, humanitarian need is still substantial.
"Although stories about the flooding in Pakistan have left the newscasts, the need in Pakistan remains significant, and our Government is committed to continuing to help meet the essential humanitarian needs of those affected," said Minister Oda. "Canada's assistance will also combat the threat of a severe food shortage next year, since the floods affected a vast agricultural region of the country. Families who are able to return to their homes must receive help to resume their livelihoods and prepare for the planting season."
"Our government committed to matching the donations Canadians made to the people of Pakistan," explained MP Bob Dechert. "Today, we are delivering on that commitment."
In today's announcement, the Government of Canada is supporting the efforts of the Canadian Red Cross Society, Oxfam Canada, World Vision Canada, CARE Canada, Action Against Hunger (Action Contre la Faim), and the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation. This support will provide ongoing flood response work, emergency relief supplies, humanitarian and recovery assistance to flood-affected people. Canadian aid will also increase access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities and hygiene to 200,000 flood-affected people and 7,500 households, as well as support cash-for-work opportunities to 14,000 people. In addition, to combat the threat of a food shortage, the Government of Canada will help restore the livelihoods of more than 69,000 households in the agricultural sector by providing agricultural resources such as seeds, fertilizers, and necessary tools.
"As a leader on the international stage, Canada remains committed to helping people affected by devastating natural disasters," said Senator Ataullahjan.
Following the floods, in recognition of the contributions individual Canadians made to help the flood-affected people, the Government of Canada announced that Canada would match the donation amounts to the Pakistan Flood Relief Fund. Canadians answered the call and generously contributed $46.8 million, which the Government of Canada matched. Today's announcement of $27.8 million, combined with a previously announced $19 million, totals the $46.8 million in the Pakistan Flood Relief Fund.
Canada's assistance to the people affected by the Pakistan floods includes a government contribution of $25 million, plus the $46.8 million from the Pakistan Flood Relief Fund, totalling $71.8 million.
For more information on Canada's support to Pakistan, please visit CIDA's website.
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Information:
Justin Broekema
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
Government of Canada Helps Millions Affected by Pakistan's Floods
February 25, 2011
The Government of Canada continues to support the most vulnerable who remain severely affected seven months after devastating floods in Pakistan. Although floodwaters have receded in many parts of the country, and flood-affected people are returning to their home areas, the continuing humanitarian needs are significant. The United Nations (UN) estimates that 20 million people were affected by the floods and that today close to 14 million remain in need of direct humanitarian and early recovery assistance.
Early recovery initiatives are underway in most flood-affected areas. Increased efforts are needed to enable flood-affected people to return to their normal lives more rapidly. As winter continues across the country, the need for shelters and health support are immediate priorities, principally in the north and northwest.
Bob Dechert, Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Erindale, and Senator Salma Ataullahjan, on behalf of Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister for International Cooperation, today announced additional support for flood-affected people. Working with a range of UN agencies, the Government of Canada will provide $19.35 million for much needed humanitarian assistance, such as food assistance, clean water and sanitation, emergency shelter, basic medical care, protection and overall coordination of the international response.
The Canadian International Development Agency will also support the work of the following Canadian organizations:
The Canadian Red Cross Society will be provided $2.2 million to assist the ongoing International Federation of Red Cross and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society floods response programming in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh. This assistance will include the provision of 45,000 shelters and agricultural resources, such as seeds, fertilizers, and tools, to 55,000 farming households and will increase the capacity of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society in their flood response programming.
Oxfam Canada will rehabilitate water sources and increase hygiene training in flood-affected areas as many return to their homes, ensuring safe household latrines and humanitarian and early recovery assistance to 200,000 people in four severely flood-affected districts with CIDA's support of $2.2 million.
World Vision Canada will receive $1.5 million to provide increased access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation to 6,000 households in the province of Punjab, and will institute clean-up and early recovery activities in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by providing cash-for-work opportunities to 1,500 households.
The Center for International Studies and Cooperation will work with more than 2,000 women and 4,000 households to help rehabilitate damaged infrastructure and restore livelihoods in agriculture by distributing seeds, tools, fertilizer, and small farm animals with CIDA's support of $1.4 million.
CARE Canada will receive $650,000 to contribute to the early recovery needs of 18,100 flood-affected people by providing winterized shelter, agricultural inputs to 14,000 people, and by improving the livelihoods of 2,000 people.
Action Against Hunger (Action Contre la Faim) will ensure the provision of both humanitarian and early recovery water and sanitation services, including safe drinking water, adequate sanitation facilities, and hygiene promotion, to 30,000 flood-affected people with CIDA's support of $500,000.
CIDA's earlier contribution of $44 million to experienced humanitarian organizations in the UN system, the Red Cross Movement and Canadian NGOs has helped meet urgent humanitarian needs by:
- Providing close to 21 million people across Pakistan with emergency food distribution.
- Ensuring 3.6 million people have clean drinking water daily.
- Vaccinating 8.2 million children under 5 for measles.
- Reaching 4 million people with hygiene promotion activities.
- Providing 30,000 sanitation facilities for 1.8 million people.
- Dispatching relief items, including tents, blankets, plastic sheets, quilts, cook sets, mosquito nets, jerry cans, sleeping mats, plastic buckets, and bars of soap to 1.7 million beneficiaries.
Today's announcement of $27.8 million is in addition to the previously announced support of $19 million, totalling $46.8 million from the Pakistan Flood Relief Fund. The Government of Canada created the Pakistan Flood Relief Fund in recognition of the generous contributions made by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charities to help the peoples affected by the floods. Canada's support for flood victims in Pakistan includes a government contribution of $25 million and the $46.8 million Pakistan Flood Relief Fund and totals $71.8 million.
Pakistan is one of CIDA's countries of focus. Canada's development partnership with Pakistan stretches back more than 60 years. The program is centered on education, with an emphasis on teacher training, and women's livelihoods. CIDA's bilateral assistance has, amongst other results, supported the training of more than 200,000 public school teachers, and has provided more than 6,000 women with entrepreneurship and business management skills. In addition, CIDA is helping communities in northern Pakistan to rebuild after the devastating South Asia earthquake of 2005.
For further information, please visit the CIDA website.
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Information:
Justin Broekema
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
