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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">May 27, 2006 <i>(3:00 p.m. EDT)</i></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">No. 57</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span> </span></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">CANADA TAKES ACTION TO ASSIST VICTIMS OF </span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">INDONESIAN EARTHQUAKE</span></span></p>
<br>
<p>Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay and Minister of International Cooperation Josée
Verner today expressed Canada’s condolences to those affected by the earthquake
that occurred southwest of the city of Yogyakarta on the island of Java in Indonesia
earlier today. Minister Verner also announced that Canada is immediately setting aside
$2 million to assist the victims in the region.</p>
<br>
<p>“On behalf of all Canadians, I wish to extend our sympathies to the families and friends
of those who lost their lives and to those communities hit by this dreadful act of nature,”
said Minister MacKay. “I also want to reassure Canadians that my department and the
Embassy of Canada in Jakarta are in contact with local authorities to determine if any </p>
<p>Canadian citizens have been affected.”</p>
<br>
<p>“I am deeply saddened to learn of today’s earthquake and its devastating impact on
Indonesia,” said Minister Verner. “Canada stands ready to help the victims by
addressing their urgent humanitarian needs.”</p>
<br>
<p>Canadian officials are in contact with local authorities and international humanitarian
partners, including the UN and the International Federation of the Red Cross/Crescent,
to assess the needs and determine how Canada may best be able to assist. Canada
will also be sending an assessment team composed of officials from Foreign Affairs Canada, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the
Department of National Defence to support the Canadian Embassy in Jakarta.</p>
<br>
<p>Core funding that Canada has already provided to the international humanitarian
system is allowing our partners in the UN and the Red Cross/Crescent Movement to
begin assessments and provide immediate support that may be needed.</p>
<br>
<p>Funding for this initiative was provided for in the 2006 federal budget and is therefore
built into the existing fiscal framework.</p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center">-30-</p>
<br>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<br>
<p>Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
<a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221041009/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000"><span> </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Canadian International Development Agency</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">(819) 953-6534</span></p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221041009/http://www.cida.gc.ca/"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.cida.gc.ca</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000"></span></p>
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