May 4, 2015 - Ottawa, Ontario - Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
The earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25 has had a terrible impact, claiming more than 7,000 lives and injuring more than 14,000 people. An estimated 3 million people are in need of shelter and food assistance.
Canada’s swift and multifaceted whole-of-government response was mounted within hours of the earthquake and has continued in the days since.
Since the day of the disaster, the Government of Canada has worked with Nepalese authorities, our allies and our humanitarian partners to support the people of Nepal and to provide timely, effective and needs-based assistance.
The Government of Canada allocated $10 million to the humanitarian response to the earthquake, including $5 million announced immediately on April 25 to kick-start the relief efforts of humanitarian partners and $5 million announced on May 2 to support the UN’s Flash Appeal.
The Government of Canada also announced the establishment of the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund, a matching funds mechanism to encourage support for the humanitarian response that recognizes the compassion and generosity of Canadians. This matching contribution will support humanitarian, early recovery and reconstruction assistance in Nepal through the work of Canada’s trusted international humanitarian and non-governmental partners.
Canada’s support will help ensure that life-saving humanitarian assistance, including much-needed health and medical services, food, water and shelter, are provided to the most vulnerable people. It will also provide logistical support so that assistance can reach people in isolated locations. Canadian aid is channelled through experienced humanitarian partners and coordinated carefully with the Nepalese government and other countries contributing to the disaster response.
The Government of Canada’s support is enabling the Canadian Red Cross to deploy an emergency health care unit to provide medical assistance, including critical maternal, newborn and child health services, to as many as 200 people per day.
Canada has deployed the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to Nepal in recent days, recognizing the need for and valuable contribution of Canadian expertise. The DART is a multidisciplinary military organization designed to deploy on short notice anywhere in the world to respond to humanitarian crises.
The DART will be contributing invaluable expertise in field engineering and primary medical care, and has already begun to establish a humanitarian hub in Dolakha District to help serve some of the most affected regions of Nepal and facilitate the international humanitarian response.
The Canadian government has placed the highest priority on assisting Canadians in need in Nepal and is continuing to do everything it can to locate Canadians in the affected areas and ensure that all are safe and receiving appropriate assistance and care. Over the past nine days, many affected Canadians have received consular assistance from Government of Canada officials and have benefited from two Canadian Armed Forces airlift operations from Kathmandu that took them safely out of harm’s way.
The Government of Canada remains committed to working with the Government of Nepal and the international community to assist the Nepalese people in their time of need. The Canadian government is confident that such continued generosity will ensure that sustained humanitarian assistance will help save lives and alleviate the suffering of those affected by the earthquake in Nepal.
“Our government, through capable aid agencies and the incredible work of the Canadian Armed Forces, and thanks to the generosity of Canadians, will continue to make a difference in the lives of the people of Nepal as they recover from this tragedy.”
- Rob Nicholson, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Johanna Quinney
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
343-203-1851
johanna.quinney@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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