November 20, 2013
OTTAWA - Today, the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie, announced up to $5 million in additional support for the deployment of relief supplies from Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada's (DFATD) emergency stockpile to meet the immediate needs of people most affected by Typhoon Haiyan.
"DFATD maintains stockpiles of emergency relief supplies to help meet the most critical humanitarian needs, including safe drinking water, emergency shelter, and hygiene and sanitation support," said Minister Paradis. "Canada has been in close contact with our humanitarian partners on the ground, and we are deploying these critical supplies now that they are able to receive and distribute them to those in need across the country."
DFATD's emergency stockpile is managed by the Canadian Red Cross Society, and will be deployed to meet the needs of affected people in the hardest-hit regions of the Philippines. Canadian non-governmental organizations on the ground with the necessary capacity will ensure further distribution of tents, blankets, water purification tablets, shelter kits, and other essential items for as many as 5,000 families, or 25,000 people. Médecins Sans Frontières/ Doctors without Borders (MSF), CARE Canada, and Save the Children Canada are working in close coordination with the wider humanitarian community, including the Government of Philippines and the United Nations, and will distribute the relief supplies where they are most needed.
"Canada's humanitarian assistance is critical to help the thousands of people who have lost everything due to the typhoon," said Minister Paradis. "We are ensuring that the most vulnerable individuals in these regions are receiving the immediate emergency support they need. As the situation on the ground evolves, we are continuing to monitor the situation and assess the needs of those most affected by the typhoon."
Currently, an estimated 13 million people have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan in nine regions across the Philippines, and more than 4 million people are known to be displaced. The number of casualties continues to increase. Many cities have experienced widespread destruction, with more than one million houses damaged. Electricity and water supplies are not functioning in many affected areas.
— 30 —
For more information, media should contact:
Margaux Stastny, Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie
Telephone: 819-953-6238
Email: margaux.stastny@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD)
Telephone: 819-995-1874
Email: media@international.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @DFATDCanada
Today's announcement by Minister Paradis contributes as much as $5 million to deploy and subsequently restock DFATD's emergency stockpile in the hardest-hit regions of the Philippines. Canada has been in close contact with our humanitarian partners on the ground and the stockpiles are being deployed now that they are able to receive and distribute them.
Canada will be sending up to 3,000 tents, 16,000 blankets, nearly 1.3 million water purification tablets, 5,000 shelter kits, 19,996 jerry cans, 19,750 tarps, and 4,400 buckets to meet the basic needs of a minimum of 5,000 families, or 25,000 people, for three months. They will be deployed on four 747 transport aircraft beginning Wednesday, November 20, 2013, and continuing throughout the week.
The Government of Canada has outlined the details of $20 million in support of humanitarian organizations striving to meet the needs of the people affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Emergency relief activities will include the provision of emergency shelter, food, water and sanitation, health care, protection, and other essential services.
This humanitarian assistance is in addition to the following announcements made by the Government of Canada since the beginning of the international relief effort on November 8, 2013:
