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Government of Canada to match donations to the crisis in Myanmar
11-01-2017
The Government of Canada will contribute aid dollars to this fund matching donations made by individuals to Canadian registered charities between August 25 and November 28, 2017.
On Tuesday October 31st -Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development, announced the creation of a Myanmar Crisis Relief Fund as part of our government’s efforts to address the tragedies and upheaval occurring in Myanmar’s Rakhine State and neighboring areas.
This fund is the latest in a series of diplomatic and financial measures taken by the Government of Canada to address the humanitarian crisis in the region. Other initiatives undertaken by the government include the following:
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The Government of Canada has provided $25 million in aid to Myanmar and neighbouring Bangladesh. The funds will be used to provide food, water, shelter and health services to those affected by the crisis. The Government has also factored gender into its approach and will be targeting the specific needs of women and girls in addition to those of men and boys.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appointed the Honourable Bob Rae, former Premier of Ontario and Interim Leader of the Liberal Party, as Canada’s Special Envoy to Myanmar.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland have each contacted Myanmarese and international leaders to express Canadians’ grave concerns. These include State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, and the foreign ministers of eight different countries.
Close to 70 per cent of these refugees are women and children, said Zaid Al-Rawni, CEO of Islamic Relief Canada, who was representing the Humanitarian Coalition at the government’s announcement on Tuesday.
The seven member collation, consisting of Canadian Lutheran World Relief, CARE Canada, Islamic Relief Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec, Plan Canada and Save the Children Canada, are celebrating the government’s decision.
“It will have a real impact on the ground, and it will save lives,” said Al-Rawni at the announcement.
As the Member of Parliament for Surrey Centre, Randeep Sarai spoke regarding this issue on the floor of the House of Commons welcomed the decision.
Mr. Sarai encourages Canadians concerned by this crisis to donate to an appropriate Canadian registered charity.
A non-exhaustive list of such charities can be found at http://www.international.gc.ca/gac-amc/campaign-campagne/myanmar/donation-don.aspx?lang=eng.
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