Otawa -- Maria Minna, Canada's Minister for International Cooperation, today announced $200,000 for the Canadian Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) to provide shelter for more than 400 families affected by the floods in Vietnam. This brings the Canadian International Development Agency's (CIDA) total contribution to victims of the floods to $300,000 since November 1999.
"The areas that were most affected by the floods are among the poorest in the country. There are very few resources with which to rebuild," said Minister Minna. "With this project, we will ensure these children, women and men have warm, dry shelter so they can begin to rebuild their lives and their communities."
CECI will build houses for over 2,000 people in the province of central Thua Trien Hue. Many of these people are currently living in inadequate temporary shelter. CECI will also help families replace livestock that was lost during the floods.
Following two periods of heavy rain and flooding in early November and early December, central Vietnam has experienced the destruction of houses, buildings and infrastructure. In the most heavily hit province of Thua Trien Hue, over 25,000 homes were destroyed or severely damaged. Many residents of the affected area are living in temporary shelters which do not adequately protect them from poor weather. In total, close to two million people were affected by the floods in Vietnam.
Funding for the initiative announced
today was provided for in the February 1999 federal budget and is therefore
built into the existing fiscal framework.
Information:
Robin Walsh
Office of the Minister for International Cooperation
Telephone: 819 953-3160
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Telephone: 819 953-6534
E-Mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca
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=A9 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 1999