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CANADA ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR SIERRA LEONE

May 12, 2000 (9:20 a.m. EDT) No. 101

CANADA ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE

FOR SIERRA LEONE

The Government of Canada today announced a number of measures to help the people of Sierra Leone and the United Nations in its efforts to restore peace in that country. These include $5 million in emergency humanitarian aid, trained planners and experts to help bolster the capacity of the UN for rapid response, and protective equipment for UN peacekeepers.

Canada, through the Canadian International Development Agency, will provide the $5 million in emergency humanitarian aid to help victims of the conflict in Sierra Leone. The aid will be targeted to the most vulnerable areas and people in need. It may include emergency food aid, shelter for families that have fled their homes, and emergency health supplies.

"This humanitarian aid will be flexible and targeted to those most in need," said Minister for International Co-operation Maria Minna. "As soon as it is safe for aid workers to return to Sierra Leone, we will move quickly to start directing this new aid to help the tens of thousands of individuals and families that are caught in the middle of the conflict."

To help bolster the planning capacity of the UN for rapid response, Canada will provide two Canadian Forces officers trained in military operations to the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations. In addition, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade will fund two officers from developing countries.

At the initiative of Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy, ministers and representatives attending a Ministerial Meeting of the Human Security Network in Lucerne, Switzerland, convened an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis in Sierra Leone. They are currently examining ways in which the Network can assist the UN in improving its rapid reaction capability.

"The people of Sierra Leone have suffered tremendously during this conflict," said Minister Axworthy. "It is essential that the UN be able to react quickly to this and future crises, and find practical ways to improve its ability to respond in an effective and timely manner. It is my hope that ministers at the Lucerne meeting will arrive at a consensus in order to show leadership in this area."

Canada will also donate 1700 fragmentation vests and 1700 helmets to the UN for use by peacekeepers of the UN mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL). These items could protect two infantry battalions deployed by the UN. This donation follows a request by the UN to provide these items to troops who had been deployed previously to Sierra Leone without protective equipment. The total value of the donation is approximately $864 000.

"The current crisis in Sierra Leone and the hostile actions against the UN peacekeeping mission deployed there demonstrate the serious need to develop within the UN system a real capacity for rapid reaction," said Minister for National Defence Art Eggleton. "Canada's assistance will improve the UN's ability to help, and the equipment we are donating will significantly improve the personal protection of troops in Sierra Leone."

The Canadian Forces currently have a senior officer on the staff of the Force Commander for the UN Mission in Sierra Leone. As well, a Canadian Forces aircraft will airlift additional troops from India and Bangladesh into that country over the next few weeks.

Canada has supported a wide range of humanitarian assistance and peacebuilding activities in Sierra Leone, which are dispersed through both Canadian non-governmental organizations and international organizations. Today's announcement of $5 million in humanitarian aid brings Canada's total humanitarian and peacebuilding contribution to Sierra Leone to over $13 million since the peace accord was signed in July 1999. Current assistance is directed toward medical needs, educational programs and support for Sierra Leone's refugees and war-affected children.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Debora Brown

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

Randy Mylyk

Office of the Minister of National Defence

(613) 996-3100

Media Liaison Office