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<p><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">February 7, 2005<i> (3:00 p.m. EST)</i><br>
No. 26</span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">UPDATE ON CANADA’S RESPONSE TO THE TSUNAMI</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt">Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew, National Defence Minister Bill Graham and
International Cooperation Minister Aileen Carroll today provided an update on the
Government of Canada’s contribution to the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts for
countries affected by the December 26 tsunami. </span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt">Minister Graham also announced the upcoming return of the Canadian Forces Disaster
Assistance Response Team (DART) after a successful relief mission. The first group of
personnel will depart Colombo, Sri Lanka, by commercial charter aircraft on February
14, 2005, and the remaining personnel will leave on February 24, 2005, by Canadian
Forces CC-150 Polaris aircraft.</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canada has played a leading role since the outset of the crisis, committing
$425 million over five years to meet relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction needs,” said
Minister Pettigrew. “We have worked actively with the governments of the affected
countries, as well as our international partners and non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) to ensure that Canada’s responses are rapid and targeted.”</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt">“DART members did outstanding work to help the region recover from this terrible
tragedy,” said Minister Graham. “Our professional and caring soldiers have made a
difference in the lives of thousands of Sri Lankans. Canadians can be proud of their
accomplishments.”</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt">The DART medical teams have seen approximately 5,500 patients, while engineers
have produced over two and a half million litres of drinking water and transported more
than 55,000 people across a local waterway. In addition, in collaboration with
international organizations and NGOs, the DART has conducted several community-based projects, such as repairing schools, clearing rubble and helping with the
construction of temporary shelters. The DART deployment complements the efforts of
local authorities and more than 100 NGOs registered in the Ampara region. As per the
DART’s mandate, tasks are being handed over to agencies that will continue the
services provided.</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt">As part of Canada’s contribution to the disaster, a promise was made that, subject to
guidelines, the Government would match public donations made to qualified aid groups.
The public responded with almost $200 million in contributions. In the coming weeks,
the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will begin to receive proposals
for the use of this money.</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt">“As we move from humanitarian aid into reconstruction, let me applaud the countless
aid workers and other Canadians who have worked on this crisis,” said Minister Carroll.
“Canada’s response to one of the gravest humanitarian disasters in recent history was
both effective and generous.”</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Government of Canada also announced that Canada has assumed the chair of the
Bilateral Donors’ Group, which was established to coordinate the delivery of
international assistance in Sri Lanka. The Group is expected to play an important role in
discussions already under way between the Government and the Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam to devise a joint mechanism for managing the disbursement of
reconstruction funds. This should serve to build confidence between the parties.</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt">Canada has set up a temporary office in Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia—one of the
first countries to establish such a presence. This office will facilitate liaison and
coordination of Canadian efforts with local authorities, other donors, and international
and non-governmental agencies. The office builds on an earlier forward office in
Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia, which was established in the days following the tsunami.</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt">In Thailand, through the provision of forensic and public-health specialists, Canada has
actively assisted Thai government authorities in responding to the needs of those
affected by the disaster, including Canadians and people of other nationalities. The
Government of Canada has also provided technical experts to conduct and assess
coastal zone rehabilitation.</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Government of Canada also reported that the number of Canadians dead or
presumed dead is seven, while the number of missing stands at 14. Work continues in
Ottawa and in the region to locate every missing individual. Through these efforts,
Foreign Affairs Canada has been able to reassure the families of close to 4,000
Canadians believed to be in the affected areas.</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt">For up-to-date information on all aspects of the government’s response to the tsunami
crisis, visit </span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221004143/http://www.canada.gc.ca/tsunami."><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.canada.gc.ca/tsunami</span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">-30-</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></p>
<br>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Sébastien Théberge<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs<br>
(613) 995-1851</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221004143/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Isabelle Savard<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of National Defence<br>
(613) 996-3100</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Media Liaison Office<br>
Department of National Defence (DND)<br>
(613) 996-2353/2354</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Andrew Graham<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of International Cooperation<br>
(819) 953-6238</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office<br>
Canadian International Development Agency<br>
(819) 953-6534<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221004143/mailto:info@acdi-cida.gc.ca"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">info@acdi-cida.gc.ca</span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">A broadcast-quality B-roll is available upon request. Still images of <i>Operation
STRUCTURE </i>are available from the DND Media Liaison Office at (613) 996-2353/2354
and from </span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221004143/http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/Operations/Structure/photos_e.asp"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/Operations/Structure/photos_e.asp</span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">.</span></span></p>
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