Canadian aid agencies launch airlift of supplies to Nepal earthquake survivors

TORONTO, May 8, 2015 /CNW/ -  Three of Canada's largest humanitarian aid agencies, CARE Canada, Save the Children Canada and World Vision, today launched a major airlift of supplies to the earthquake-stricken nation of Nepal. The quake that struck Nepal on April 25^th left more than 8,400 people dead and thousands of others are injured. Aid efforts are now starting to reach many remote communities, but challenges remain due to blocked roads and severe damage to the country's limited infrastructure.

The supplies, which are being airlifted through the cooperation of the Canadian Red Cross and Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, will begin leaving today from Toronto's Pearson International Airport and are expected to arrive in Nepal in the coming days, subject to obtaining permission from local authorities. The shipments include shelter kits, mosquito nets, blankets, tarpaulins and buckets, all of which are desperately needed by children and their families in Nepal, many of whom lost everything in the aftermath of the earthquake.

QUOTES:

"As a Canadian and head of a Canadian agency, I am proud that Canada continues to help the people of Nepal with appropriate and critical relief items," says Gillian Barth, president and CEO of CARE Canada. "CARE's team in Nepal is seeing the devastation and suffering survivors are facing. The support of the Government of Canada and Canadian public from coast-to-coast will allow us to reach more vulnerable families and assist them through this extremely difficult time."

"Children are the most vulnerable in this situation and urgently need shelter, food, water and other essential items. Save the Children has been working in Nepal for nearly 40 years and are well placed to respond both to immediate needs and in the long term," says Patricia Erb, President and CEO, Save the Children Canada. "We are drawing on our resources from Canada and around the world to help the people in Nepal, but there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done. Together, we must commit to helping the people of Nepal."

"I've just returned from Nepal, and it's clear to me that it will take years for the country and its people to recover from the impact of this deadly earthquake," says World Vision Canada's incoming president and CEO Michael Messenger. "Even though this disaster will soon be just a memory for those of us in Canada, hundreds of thousands of Nepalese people will continue to struggle to find food and shelter while trying to care for their children. The time for action is now, and we must take it."

FAST FACTS:

• The earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, 2015 measured 7.8 on the Richter scale. In addition to killing and injuring thousands of people, the quake also destroyed or severely damaged more than 450,000 homes throughout the country.
• CARE Canada, Save the Children Canada and World Vision have all launched fundraising efforts to provide help for survivors of the Nepal earthquake and are encouraging Canadians to give generously.
• The Government of Canada is matching all donations for Nepal earthquake relief made to registered charities until May 25, 2015.
• The contribution of these supplies is in addition to funding already provided by the Government of Canada to all three agencies for their emergency response in Nepal: CARE Canada ($600,000), Save the Children Canada ($600,000) and World Vision Canada ($450,000)
  
  

CARE Canada and Save the Children Canada are proud members of the Humanitarian Coalition. World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.

SOURCE World Vision Canada

Image with caption: "Tents and other supplies from World Vision Canada are loaded onto a cargo plane at Toronto's Pearson International Airport today. The supplies will be distributed to needy families who survived the April 25th earthquake in Nepal. (CNW Group/World Vision Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150508_C5094_PHOTO_EN_16408.jpg

Image with caption: "Bound for Nepal, these supplies provided by CARE Canada, Save the Children Canada and World Vision Canada, will be distributed to needy families in the wake of the April 25th earthquake that has left more than 8,400 people dead and damaged thousands of homes. (CNW Group/World Vision Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150508_C5094_PHOTO_EN_16409.jpg

Image with caption: "Supplies provided by CARE Canada await loading at Toronto's Pearson airport aboard a cargo aircraft that will take them to Nepal. The material, which includes tents, mosquito nets, buckets and other household supplies, will be distributed to survivors of the April 25th earthquake. (CNW Group/World Vision Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150508_C5094_PHOTO_EN_16410.jpg

For interviews regarding details of this airlift, media should contact the following: Darcy Knoll, Communications Specialist, CARE Canada, Phone [phone], E-mail: [email protected]; Kirsten Walkom, National Senior Manager, Save the Children Canada, Phone: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]; Robert Neufeld, Manager, Emergency Response Communications, World Vision Canada, Phone: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.worldvision.ca