VZCZCXRO9878
OO RUEHAO RUEHHO RUEHNG RUEHRS
DE RUEHOT #0158/01 0401639
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 091636Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0351
INFO ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000158
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID HA CA
SUBJECT: TFHA01: CANADIANS GIVE GENEROUSLY FOR HAITI RELIEF
REF: OTTAWA 86; MONTREAL 38; OTTAWA 55
1. (U) Summary: Canadians have so far contributed C$113 million
(approximately US$105.6 million) to the Haiti Earthquake Relief
Fund; the government has pledged to match all such contributions
through February 12. In addition, the Government of Canada has
earmarked C$135 million (approximately US$126.2 million) for
humanitarian assistance, relief, and reconstruction efforts in
Haiti. Over 2,00 federal government as well as Canadian Forces
(CF) personnel are now working in Haiti. The province of Quebec
has also responded robustly to the disaster (ref b). Even before
the January 12 earthquake, Haiti was the second largest recipient
of Canadian development assistance worldwide (ref c). End summary.
DONATIONS TOP $113 MILLION, BUT STILL TIME FOR "ONE BIG PUSH"
2. (U) During a February 8 visit to the Canadian Red Cross in
Ottawa, Minister of International Cooperation Bev Oda cited the
C$113 million in contributions by individual Canadians to the Haiti
Earthquake Relief Fund so far, and reiterated the government's
pledge to match all contributions between January 12 and February
12 (having abandoned an initial cap of C$50 million for matching
funds). The Minister stated that the outpouring of generosity had
"extended far beyond expectations" and made her "proud to be
Canadian." Ms. Oda urged Canadians to "make that one final effort,
one big push" to maximize their contribution by February 12. The
Government of Canada will allocate the funds to Canadian and
international humanitarian and development organizations in support
of relief and recovery efforts in Haiti.
GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TO DATE
3. (U) Through the Canadian International Development Agency
(CIDA), Canada has already provided C$85 million (US$79.5 million)
in urgent humanitarian aid to Haiti. This includes: C$5 million
(US$ 4.6 million) for urgent needs; C$60 million (US$56.1 million)
to the UN appeal to fund essential necessities and basic services
through UN agencies; C$11.5 million (US$10.7 million) to support
critical relief efforts by Canadian NGOS, such as CARE, Medecins du
Monde, Save the Children, Oxfam Quebec, the Centre for
International Studies and Cooperation (CECI), and World Vision;
and, C$8.5 million (US$ 7.9 million) to the International
Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. CIDA also
supports a field hospital managed by the Canadian and Norwegian Red
Cross, and sent supplies such as tents, tarpaulins, tools, mosquito
nets, hygiene kits, kitchen sets, water buckets, and jerry cans to
Haiti. To date, the Government of Canada has earmarked a total of
C$135 million (US$ 126.2 million) for humanitarian assistance,
relief, and reconstruction efforts.
4. (U) Canada has deployed 56 expert personnel to assist with the
relief effort in Haiti from a range of government departments,
including the Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade, CIDA, Canadian Border Services Agency, and the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police. Services include search and rescue,
medical and logistics personnel, engineers, and humanitarian and
disaster victim identification experts. Another 19 Canadian
humanitarian technical experts, including medical staff, support
aid agencies on the ground in Haiti. Canada has also worked
closely with the Government of Haiti, the United Nations, and the
international community in support of a coordinated response to the
disaster.
5. (U) As of February 5, 2,032 Canadian Forces (CF) personnel are
serving in Haiti as part of Operation Hestia, the CF component of
the Canadian government's whole-of-government response to the
earthquake. The Joint Task Force Haiti has six CH-146 Griffon
tactical helicopters in use, while CF aircraft have airlifted 3.5
million pounds of relief items from Canada, of which CF helicopters
in Haiti have distributed over 136,000 pounds. CF personnel have
distributed 157,000 liters of water and 372,900 meals, and have
treated over 6,000 patients.
OTTAWA 00000158 002 OF 002
6. (U) Minimize concerned.
JACOBSON