Canada stands in solidarity with the people of Colombia following the August 10 earthquake, which has resulted in tragic loss of life and extensive damage to homes, infrastructure and communities. With hundreds of thousands of people affected, humanitarian efforts must be scaled up to ensure that life-saving assistance reaches those who need it the most.
Today, the Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development), announced that Canada is providing more than $2 million in funding to support emergency relief efforts in response to the earthquake. The funding is allocated as follows:
- $1.4 million to the World Food Programme for emergency food assistance and logistics services
- $350,000 through the Canadian Humanitarian Assistance Fund to Canadian Lutheran World Relief, a member of the Humanitarian Coalition, to provide relief items, including emergency shelter kits, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene services
- $250,000 through the Emergency Disaster Assistance Fund, which is administered by the Canadian Red Cross, to support the Colombian Red Cross' ongoing relief operations
- $50,000 through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives to build emergency housing and provide food and hygiene kits
This funding for emergency response builds on the almost $8.5 million in funding for ongoing humanitarian assistance that was allocated by Canada earlier this year to respond to ongoing humanitarian needs in Colombia.
Canada continues to monitor the situation and remains in close contact with experienced humanitarian partners to assess and respond to evolving needs.
