Thursday, Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, and the Honourable Harjit Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, today announced that the Government of Canada has deployed the Canadian Disaster Assessment Team (CDAT) to Haiti and set aside up to $3 million as an initial humanitarian response for those in Haiti and other countries in the region affected by Hurricane Matthew.

The CDAT will rapidly assess the situation, which is a critical step in ensuring that a Canadian response to the hurricane is coordinated, evidence-based and tailored to the needs on the ground. Canada is also supporting the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination unit teams in Jamaica and Haiti, who are still assessing the situation and assisting local authorities.

Canada’s humanitarian assistance will go toward immediate, life-saving needs, such as water and sanitation, food, shelter and basic health services, and will be delivered through experienced humanitarian partners. Canada contributes financially to UN agencies, the Red Cross Movement and non-governmental organizations to quickly get humanitarian aid to where it is needed.

"Canada stands side by side with Haiti in the wake of this devastating hurricane. We work with experienced humanitarian partners, including Canadian and international NGOs, the Red Cross Movement and UN agencies on the ground, and our teams have been working around the clock to assess the situation. Our government is ready to provide further assistance needed to reach the most vulnerable, including, especially, women and children," declared Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie.

"The terrible destruction and loss of life https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18849-haiti-flash-271-deceased-provisional-report.html in Haiti left by Hurricane Matthew is deeply concerning. The Canadian Disaster Assessment Team deployed quickly via Canadian Armed Forces aircraft to assess the damage. As this situation evolves, the Canadian Armed Forces stand ready to support Government of Canada efforts," declared Harjit Sajjan, Minister of National Defence of Canada.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18849-haiti-flash-271-deceased-provisional-report.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18837-haiti-politic-privert-overflight-the-great-south.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18822-haiti-flash-matthew-be-careful-it-s-not-over.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18821-haiti-flash-the-bridge-ladigue-collapses-situation-west-pap.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18816-haiti-flash-blackout-on-port-au-prince-les-cayes-flooded.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18812-haiti-flash-matthew-the-situation-across-the-country.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18809-haiti-flash-hurricane-matthew-the-current-situation.html

HL/ HaitiLibre