A long-term commitment
Established partners
The facts speak for themselves
Assistance in three phases
Relief: Providing people with essential goods and services
Recovery: Supporting communities in transition and restoring local services
Reconstruction: Rebuilding sustainable communities

In Bedadi Village, Pakistan, many of the 6,000 residents lost their homes to the earthquake. Reconstruction is underway, as shown here as bricks are laid out to dry.

On October 8, 2005, South Asia was struck by an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale. The tremor shook Afghanistan, India, and China, but northern Pakistan was the region hardest hit: more than 73,000 Pakistanis died, and about 70,000 were injured. More than 200,000 schools were destroyed, and at least 2.8 million people were left homeless.

Following the earthquake, the Government of Canada committed funds for humanitarian assistance, and relief and recovery efforts. This includes the cost of deploying the Department of National Defence's Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, and a pledge to a matching-fund program.

Beyond the relief provided initially, Canada and its partners now support efforts to rebuild Pakistani communities. An additional contribution of $40 million will be allocated over the next few years for reconstruction initiatives proposed by Canadian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and for the construction of schools.

Canada's total response is approximately $130 million.

Through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Canada is making a number of contributions to international efforts to assist the people of Pakistan:

• CIDA supports established Canadian NGOs working in the region, notably Save the Children Canada, CARE Canada, Aga Khan Foundation, Foster Parents Plan of Canada, Oxfam Canada, and World Vision Canada. Canada also established the South Asia Earthquake Matching Fund, through which funds donated by the Canadian public to NGOs were matched dollar for dollar by the Government of Canada to implement relief, recovery and reconstruction programming.
  
• Canada contributes to programs established by the Red Cross and by United Nations agencies, including UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), UN-Habitat, and the Food and Agriculture Organization.
  
• Canada supports initiatives by Pakistani NGOs recognized for the effectiveness and benefits of their work.

The figures speak for themselves Investments by the international community, including Canada, have produced results. Here are some examples: In the six months following the earthquake, World Vision provided shelter and distributed relief kits to more than 30,000 families in over 450 villages. In nine months, Oxfam built nearly 9,600 latrines; repaired or rebuilt 273 water supply systems, which helped about 394,000 people; and distributed some 46,000 hygiene kits to disaster victims. In six months, the WFP gave more than 100,000 metric tonnes of provisions to one million people in camps, hospitals, schools, and hard-to-reach areas.

In Siraan Sialkot Resident Camp, Pakistan, a child is enjoying dinner with his family. Communities affected by the disaster received assistance and food through several organizations and donors, including CIDA.

Aid delivery proved especially difficult after hundreds of landslides destroyed roads. This made it necessary to restore services related particularly to transportation, health, sanitation, education, and income-generating activities.

Canada will provide assistance to build schools and carry out reconstruction projects proposed by Canadian NGOs. These funds will help people in devastated areas to rebuild their lives, by providing them with the tools to gradually become self-sufficient again.