Ottawa, OntarioToday, ,thee Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Coop­eration, announced that Canada is providing immediate humani­tarian assistance, such as food, clean water, shelter and non-food relief items, to the hundreds of thousands of people affected by Tropical Storm Washi in the Phil­ippines. “Canada extends its condo­lences to those who have lost friends and family with the onset of the storm and sudden floods in the Philippines,” said Minister Oda. “We commend the local communities, non-governmental organizations, and the Govern­ment of the Philippines for their rapid response. Today, Canada is responding to calls for needed supplies and further assistance to help those affected restore their strength and livelihoods.”

Recent reports indicate the storm displaced more than 500,000 people in 13 provinces of the country. The Government of the Philippines undertook a major emergency rescue, evacu­ation and relief response opera­tion in southern Philippines. Canada’s response, through the Canadian International De­velopment Agency, will support the efforts of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the UN World Food Programme (WFP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and Oxfam Canada in the affected area.

The IFRCwill provide safe water, food and non-food relief items to 5,000 families currently in emer­gency evacuation centres. WFP will provide immediate lifesaving food assistance to approximately 220,000 people and targeted dis­tribution of high-energy food to 15,000 children under five. IOM will provide emergency shelter repair kits, which include items such as tarps, lumber and ropes, for as many as 23,550 families and non-food relief items, includ­ing essential household items, for 47,000 affected families. Ox­fam Canada will improve access to safe water for approximately 8,000 families, as well as set up latrines and shower blocks in evacuation centres and in com­munities hosting evacuees.

Canada will provide up to $1.25 million to carry out this work. Canada will also continue to monitor the situation closely and will respond to further humanitar­ian needs as appropriate.

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