(2005-R21) News Release
TORONTO - Jim Karygiannis, Member of Parliament for Scarborough - Agincourt, today announced on behalf of the Honourable Aileen Carroll, Minister of International Cooperation, that the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will provide an additional $500,000 to help people in Pakistan who were affected by the recent earthquake. The funding will be provided to the International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF) and is part of the Government of Canada's South Asia Earthquake Matching Fund program.
"During my visit to Pakistan, I saw the need for international aid - destroyed homes and businesses, shattered lives," said Mr Karygiannis "Canada is meeting its commitment. Today's contribution will provide much needed immediate relief, especially as winter approaches, for people in some of the country's hardest hit regions."
Today's funding will enable the IDRF to procure and distribute emergency shelter kits, including winterized tents, plastic sheets, rugs, blankets, jerry cans, kitchen sets, cooking stoves, kerosene, and candles to approximately 12,000 people. The project will also support mobile medical teams in Pakistani Kashmir, and medical units in North West Frontier Province which would serve up to 100 people per day per unit, and house six beds each for the critically ill. It will also fund the shipment of 4,000 tents, independently funded and procured by IDRF.
"CIDA's partners working in the region have proven their ability and commitment to deliver assistance to the victims under very difficult conditions," said Minister Carroll. "We will continue to support their efforts."
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2005 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
Information
Media Relations Office, Canadian International
Development Agency (CIDA)
Telephone: (819) 953-6534
E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca
Office of Jim Karygiannis
Margot Doey-Vick: (613) 992-4501
Kathy Gooch: (416) 321-5454