Canada to provide P200M for Ruby victims

Canada will provide some P200 million (5 million Canadian dollars) in humanitarian assistance to those affected by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit).

 

The Canadian Embassy in the Philippines said the funding will be channeled to international humanitarian non-governmental organizations working in the affected areas.

 

“It is heartbreaking that the people of the Philippines have been hit once again with such a destructive typhoon while still dealing with the devastation caused by typhoon Yolanda just over a year ago,” Canadian ambassador to the Philippines Neil Reeder said.

 

He said Canada’s support will help respond to needs identified by the Philippine government such as water, sanitation, emergency shelter, and other essential relief items.

 

Figures from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council as of Wednesday indicated Ruby had left 18 dead and affected 3,852,672.

 

Ruby also caused P3,349,359,620 in damage, including P1,435,804,523 in infrastructure and P1,913,555,097 in agriculture.

 

“Canada is steadfast in its commitment to helping the Filipino people in their efforts to restore their livelihoods and build a better future for their country. Canada was proud to help in the relief effort in 2013, and we are proud to assist again this year,” Reeder said.

 

The assistance will be allocated to the following humanitarian organizations:

 

 

Yolanda

 

Meanwhile, the Canadian government said the deadline for the Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) reconstruction assistance call for proposals will be extended to February 13, 2015.

 

"This will give Canadian organizations on the ground more time to mobilize their responses to Typhoon ‘Ruby’, as needed, and to consider ‘Ruby’s implications in Yolanda-affected areas," the embassy said. — Joel Locsin/VC, GMA News