Toronto (Canada).- Canada announced this Wednesday more than two million Canadian dollars (about 1.45 million US dollars) in humanitarian aid destined for Colombia to assist victims of the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that on August 10 caused the death of at least 331 people, and has left 4,439 injured and 240 missing.
Canadian Parliamentary Secretary for International Development, Randeep Sarai, stated in a press release that the funds will be used to provide food, emergency shelter, clean water, and sanitation services to the hardest-hit communities.
Read more: Canada defeats Cuba 3-0 in the Norceca Continental Championship 202
Of the total, 1.4 million Canadian dollars will be provided to the World Food Programme (WFP) for food assistance and logistics services, while another 350,000 Canadian dollars will fund emergency shelters and water, sanitation, and hygiene services through Canadian Lutheran World Relief.
In addition, the Colombian Red Cross will receive $250,000 from Canada and another $50,000 will be allocated to build emergency housing and provide food and hygiene kits.
“In this difficult time, Canada stands with the people of Colombia,” stated Sarai, while Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand added that Ottawa is using “trusted partners” to deliver vital aid to the affected people.
More Read
According to the most recent official Colombian report, 331 people have died, 4,439 were injured, and 240 remain missing. The disaster has affected more than 324,000 people in 494 municipalities across sixteen departments and has destroyed more than 31,500 homes.
The new contribution is in addition to the nearly 8.5 million Canadian dollars that Ottawa had already allocated this year to address other humanitarian needs in Colombia.
Canada has also contributed more than 29 million Canadian dollars this year to the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, which allocated five million US dollars to Colombia following the earthquake.
