The Government of Canada has taken decisive action to provide emergency relief to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan. These measures include:
• Providing an initial allocation of $30,000 to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to help launch relief operations;
• Providing up to $5 million in support to humanitarian organizations for emergency relief activities;
• Committing an additional $15 million for humanitarian assistance, based on appeals from Canada’s humanitarian partners, such as United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and non-governmental organizations, who have the expertise and capacity to deliver assistance on the ground;
• Creating a matching fund by which the government will contribute a dollar for each eligible dollar donated by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charities until December 9, 2013;
• Assisting with the deployment of a Canadian Red Cross 12-person medical team and field hospital to provide emergency health support in the Philippines;
• Sending the Interdepartmental Strategic Support Team to Manila to determine where Canada’s help is most needed; and,
• Deploying elements of the Canadian Armed Forces’ Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to support Government of Canada relief efforts in the region by providing clean water, medical assistance and logistical support. The DART will address the pressing needs in the provinces of Iloilo and Capiz.
In addition, Canada will be prioritizing the processing of Filipino applications on request from those who are significantly and personally affected by Typhoon Haiyan. Requests from Filipino citizens who are temporarily in Canada and wish to extend their stay will be assessed in a compassionate and flexible manner. Canadians without travel documents as a result of the typhoon will have their applications expedited by the Canadian Embassy in Manila.
Prime Minister Harper also spoke with Benigno Aquino III, President of the Republic of the Philippines, on November 11 to extend his heartfelt condolences to the people of the Philippines, and to offer support to the Government of the Philippines in the aftermath of the natural disaster.
