Canada Provides Humanitarian Assistance in the Philippines in Response to Typhoon Bopha

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec 6, 2012) - Today, the Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of International Cooperation, announced that Canada is taking action to help those affected by Typhoon Bopha in the Philippines. [http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/acdi-cida/ACDI-CIDA.nsf/eng/JUD-129161341-SW5]

"Canada is deeply concerned about the devastation caused by Typhoon Bopha and its impact on the people of the Philippines," said Minister Fantino. "We are working with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies [http://www.ifrc.org/en/] and the Philippine Red Cross to ensure that concrete steps are taken to alleviate suffering and the immediate and ongoing needs of those affected are met."

Canada is providing $250,000 to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to support the Philippine Red Cross in its efforts to address the emergency needs of some 50,000 people affected by the impact of Typhoon Bopha. This support will help meet immediate and long-term needs by providing drinking water, food, and other much-needed relief items, and by preventing disease and providing support to families.

The Government of Canada will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure basic human needs are met and provide further assistance if required.

Backgrounder

Canada''s response to Typhoon Bopha in the Philippines

Typhoon Bopha (locally named Pablo) made landfall on the eastern coast of Mindanao island in southern Philippines on December 5, 2012, as a category 5 typhoon, the strongest storm to hit the country this year. Although the massive storm weakened slightly upon landfall, it brought heavy rains and strong winds, leaving a trail of destruction to homes, livelihoods, transportation routes, and infrastructure.

The typhoon made landfall three times as it passed through Mindanao, central Visayas, and Palawan. The most affected areas include the provinces of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental. Initial reports indicate that 322 people died, 401 were injured, and 229,734 people have been affected. More than 2,900 homes were damaged, and road infrastructure has been heavily damaged. Power outages are widespread, and communications with some of the affected areas has been cut off due to one of the major phone carriers being inoperable in some parts of northern Mindanao and other affected areas.

A United Nations disaster and assessment team, which includes a Canadian delegate whose deployment is funded through an ongoing CIDA project, has been deployed to provide direct support with the rapid needs assessments.