CIDA offers aid to Caribbean countries

OTTAWA – Canadian Aileen Carroll, minister of international cooperation, announced October 1st a contribution of $8.1 million to assist in reconstruction efforts in the Caribbean, in the wake of Hurricane Ivan and Tropical Storm Jeanne, and to provide humanitarian assistance for Haiti. {{more}}A release from that Canadian ministry says the funds will be provided by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

“Canada provided immediate humanitarian aid to those affected by the destruction caused by Hurricane Ivan,” Minister Carroll said. “We are following up on our commitment to help the people in the Caribbean recover from the aftermath of this tragedy by also providing assistance for reconstruction.”

Reconstruction in response to Hurricane Ivan will be aimed at the Eastern Caribbean, primarily Grenada ($4.5 million) and Jamaica ($2 million). The funds will be used for economic reconstruction and agricultural recovery and is in addition to over $2 million already provided for emergency assistance to the people of Grenada, Jamaica, Cuba and other affected countries.

CIDA is also contributing $1 million to the World Food Programme to support operations in Gonaives and Port-de-Paix, Haiti, the areas hardest hit by the floods caused by Tropical Storm Jeanne. This commitment for Haiti is on top of CIDA’s initial $2 million contribution to support immediate relief efforts and is part of the more than $180 million over two years committed to Haiti’s reconstruction and development efforts.