Government to match private donations to aid groups working in Myanmar, China (Myanmar-China-Aid)
OTTAWA _ Bev Oda, the minister of International Co-operation,
said Thursday the federal government will match private donations
made to aid groups working on disaster relief in Myanmar and China.
Oda earlier promised $2 million for aid to cyclone-ravaged
Myanmar, where tens of thousands have died and hundreds of thousands are homeless.
Her promise to match the donations of individuals will raise that
figure.
Canada also offered help to China, where an earthquake killed
tens of thousands on Monday, but there's no word on whether such aid is needed or wanted.
``We're constantly talking with the organizations on the ground
and we're going to be responding as they assess their needs and get
their requests into us,'' Oda told reporters.
But the money is nowhere near what Canada should be offering, a
Liberal MP countered.
``We've asked for that to be increased by tenfold, you can't do
much with two million dollars,'' Keith Martin said.
Myanmar state television said Thursday that the official cyclone
death toll to has climbed to more than 43,000, while UN officials
have said the number of dead could be more than 100,000.
Officials in China said Thursday the death toll from that
disaster could reach 50,000.
OTTAWA _ Bev Oda, the minister of International Co-operation,
said Thursday the federal government will match private donations
made to aid groups working on disaster relief in Myanmar and China.
Oda earlier promised $2 million for aid to cyclone-ravaged
Myanmar, where tens of thousands have died and hundreds of thousands are homeless.
Her promise to match the donations of individuals will raise that
figure.
Canada also offered help to China, where an earthquake killed
tens of thousands on Monday, but there's no word on whether such aid is needed or wanted.
``We're constantly talking with the organizations on the ground
and we're going to be responding as they assess their needs and get
their requests into us,'' Oda told reporters.
But the money is nowhere near what Canada should be offering, a
Liberal MP countered.
``We've asked for that to be increased by tenfold, you can't do
much with two million dollars,'' Keith Martin said.
Myanmar state television said Thursday that the official cyclone
death toll to has climbed to more than 43,000, while UN officials
have said the number of dead could be more than 100,000.
Officials in China said Thursday the death toll from that
disaster could reach 50,000.
