January 14, 2010

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Haitian people, as well as those who are worried about the safety and security of loved ones.

We offer our most sincere condolences to those who have lost friends and family in this terrible event.

As the Prime Minister has stated, “Canada stands ready to provide any necessary assistance to the people of Haiti during this time of need.”

Earlier today, the Prime Minister spoke to the Haitian chargé d'affaires to offer Canada’s assistance.

The Prime Minister also spoke to President Obama, and both leaders that Canada and the United States would coordinate our humanitarian response in Haiti.

Canada is providing a rapid response to the current situation.

• A Canadian Forces DART (Disaster Assistance Response Team) reconnaissance team has just landed in Port-au-Prince, carrying urgent supplies and expert personnel to assess the situation.
• A larger deployment of emergency supplies, personnel, and search and rescue helicopters will depart Canada in the coming hours aboard a massive C-17 aircraft purchased by the Conservative Government. Further deployments will be made available as the situation evolves.
• The HMCS Halifax and HMCS Athabaskan, two Canadian naval ships loaded with food, bottled water, medical equipment and humanitarian supplies, have been ordered to set sail for Haiti to provide crucial support.
• The Minister of International Cooperation has announced an initial emergency contribution of $5 million to assist with the urgent humanitarian situation. And we will continue to assess needs as the situation develops.
• The Canadian Embassy in Port-au-Prince is providing emergency support to Canadians citizens in need.

Canada continues to work closely with local authorities, international organizations and UN agencies to help bring relief to those affected and provide support.
Friends and relatives in Canada seeking information on Canadian citizens believed to be in Haiti should contact the Emergency Operations Centre by calling 1‑800‑387-3124 or, for those in Ottawa, 613‑943‑1055. They may also send an email to sos@international.gc.ca.
Canadian citizens in Haiti requiring emergency consular assistance should call Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Emergency Operations Centre collect at 613-996-8885, or send an email to sos@international.gc.ca.
The Governemnt will update Canadians as the situation evolves at: http://www.international.gc.ca/humanitarian-humanitaire/earthquake_seisme_haiti.aspx