April 28, 2015 - Ottawa, Ontario - Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, joined Conrad Sauvé, Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Red Cross (CRC), in the deployment of CRC delegates as part of an emergency health care unit responding to the devastating earthquake in Nepal.
“Canada stands with the people in Nepal and the surrounding region affected by this catastrophic earthquake,” said Minister Paradis. “Their needs are great and Canada is proud to support the Canadian Red Cross in sending Canadian health expertise to help ensure that life-saving medical care reaches those most in need.”
The Government of Canada supported an emergency health care unit with the capacity to provide urgent care for up to 200 people per day, with a particular focus on providing maternal, newborn and child health care services.
“Thanks to ongoing support from the Government of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross maintains the ability to rapidly deploy trained personnel and supplies to hard-hit communities following a humanitarian emergency,” said Mr. Sauvé. “The deployment of our emergency health care unit will provide urgently needed health care to mothers, newborns and children affected by the devastating earthquake in Nepal.”
The Canadians leaving for Nepal today will be joined by five delegates from the Philippines Red Cross to work alongside local staff and volunteers to meet urgent health and medical care needs.
Canada’s humanitarian assistance helps save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain the dignity of people in developing countries affected by natural disasters requiring a humanitarian response.
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