INTERNATIONAL Development Minister Christian Paradis on Wednesday announced that the Government of Canada will provide additional humanitarian assistance funding to support the continued relief efforts underway by experienced Canadian and international non-governmental organizations and United Nations humanitarian agencies responding to the needs of those affected by the earthquake in Nepal.
Canada’s additional support to humanitarian efforts in Nepal will further contribute to provide life-saving assistance, such as restoring water supply systems, supporting mobile health clinics to provide health and medical care to isolated communities, providing protection for children, food and nutrition assistance, temporary income support, and emergency shelter.
Paradis said: “The Government of Canada’s contribution, including the results achieved by the DART and our humanitarian partners, along with the continued generosity of Canadians, has shown once again that Canada is a global leader in helping those affected by natural disasters. Canada is committed to helping ensure the necessary assistance is provided to the most vulnerable people, as well as supporting longer-term efforts in Nepal to help the country recover and rebuild from the disaster.”
A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck near Kathmandu on April 25 and was followed by a series of large aftershocks, including a 7.2-magnitude earthquake on May 12. With millions of people affected, the impact of the earthquake prompted a significant international response.
Canada provided a timely and comprehensive response to humanitarian needs resulting from the Nepal earthquakes that included establishing humanitarian assistance funding, creating the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund to match eligible donations by Canadians, deploying Canada’s Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), and providing relief supplies from Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada’s (DFATD) emergency stockpiles in Mississauga, Ontario, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to the hardest-hit regions of Nepal.
