November 8, 2014 - One year ago the most powerful storm to ever make landfall struck the Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan was not a surprise. The world knew days in advance that it was churning in the Pacific and that if it kept to its anticipated course, the Philippines would fall directly in its path.
Even with the ability to predict and with time to prepare, more than 6,000 people died and millions were affected.
With a large number of injuries and indescribable destruction of property and infrastructure, the Philippines needed emergency humanitarian help, and Canada was at the forefront of the international response.
Within 24 hours of the storm making landfall, Canada had pledged financial support to humanitarian partners on the ground, enabling them to provide immediate assistance. We established the Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund so Canadians wishing to help could have confidence that their government would match their generous contributions. In total, Canadians donated $85 million in eligible funds, which helped to make Canada the third-largest contributor to global response efforts.
Our Government also sent relief supplies including tents, blankets, water purification tablets, shelter kits and other essential items from the Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada emergency stockpile. We deployed the Canadian Armed Forces’ Disaster Assistance Response Team to provide much-needed water, sanitation and logistical support and to help clean up debris. We also supported the deployment of a Canadian Red Cross field hospital. In a single month of operation, medical personnel in the facility assisted more than 1,200 patients, delivered 418 babies and performed 114 surgeries.
Early on, Canadian generosity assisted humanitarian and early-recovery needs including the provision of food for three million people, the provision of shelter for up to 500,000 families, and the restoration of livelihoods for up to 2.6 million people working in agriculture and fisheries.
Canada, and Canadians, made these contributions because of our long tradition of generously helping the world’s most vulnerable people. Our actions to assist others are an important expression of Canadian values. We want to assist people in their time of greatest need.
What happened in the Philippines is not unusual in the developing world. Even with advance warning, many countries are still unable to fully prepare for a possible catastrophe. It is for this reason that Canada must always stand at the ready to provide humanitarian assistance in places that need it.
In June 2014, the Philippines was confirmed as a country of focus for the Government of Canada’s international development efforts. This longer-term development program will continue to support Filipinos during the response and beyond.
We make this commitment because it is an expression of the values we believe in, but also because it is the right thing to do.
As we mark the anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan making landfall in the Philippines, I invite all Canadians to remember those who were lost in the storm. It’s important to reflect on the major role that Canada and its citizens can, and must, play to help those who are unable to overcome the challenges that stand in their way.
Christian Paradis
Minister of International Development and La Francophonie
