Canada donates US5 million to assist in Haitis recovery

Canada has committed to sending an additional $5 million worth of humanitarian aid to Haiti, where hundreds have been killed and thousands left homeless from flooding created by the recent tropical storms Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike.
This is in addition to the $600,000 sent on Sept. 6 in response to an appeal for Haiti, Cuba and Jamaica by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies.
The money will be used to support activities such as water and sanitation, food, shelter and health care. Last week, Hurricane Hanna swept through the country leaving nearly 500 people dead.
It is thought that more than 800,000 people in Haiti have been affected by the storms.
Canada’s embassy also indicated it was sending a strategic team to Haiti to evaluate the situation and possibly recommend any additional medical and infrastructure needs. They are also considering dispatching their Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), a military unit made up of about 200 soldiers who provide short-term help such as medical assistance and water purification.
As well, the embassy said that a Canadian naval vessel is being sent to Haiti to assess whether Canada’s disaster assistance team should also be sent to assist victims of the storms.
Haiti is Canada’s second biggest recipient of aid, after Afghanistan.