Canada Sends $5 Million to Help Flood-Hit Nepal Region

Canada is providing $5 million in humanitarian aid for Nepal as search efforts continue for 32 Canadians and permanent residents unaccounted for following devastating flash floods and landslides along the Nepal–Tibet border.

This funding would be used for emergency food, shelter, water, sanitation, and health services, with those items being delivered through the UN, Red Cross, and Canadian NGO partners, Global Affairs Canada said on Aug. 28.

Canada would also provide relief supplies from its emergency stockpiles if requested, the department said.

Five consular officials dispatched to Kathmandu are coordinating with local authorities and partners, and are ready to assist Canadians in the affected region, it said.

“Canada is focused on supporting Canadians and their families as this devastating situation unfolds,” Foreign Affairs Minister Anita said.

“We are working closely with authorities in Nepal and China, as well as our partners and allies, and doing everything we can to help Canadians affected by this crisis.”

The government asked Canadians in Nepal or Tibet to sign up for the Registration of Canadians Abroad service and provide up-to-date information.

On Aug. 26, a flash flood and debris flow struck the area along the Nepal–China border following the collapse of part of a glacier near Langtang Lirung, which triggered an avalanche of ice and rock.

The flood swept through settlements along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems, destroying homes, bridges, roads and other infrastructure. The China–Nepal border crossing at Gyirong Port was also devastated.

“I spoke with Nepal’s ambassador to Canada, who updated me with the following information: 579 bodies have been recovered so far, and another 1,924 people are missing,” Anand said while speaking during a virtual press conference on Aug. 28. Among the missing are 32 Canadians.

Randeep Sarai, secretary of state for international development, said at the press conference, “Initial estimates are that approximately 100,000 people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.”

In addition to the $5 million announced by Ottawa, joint pool funds that Canada regularly contributes to had also been activated to provide relief to Nepal, including a drawdown of $100 million from the International Federation of Red Cross Disaster Response Emergency Fund to the Nepal Red Cross, and $2 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, he said.

Anand said that 866 Canadians in Nepal and about 10,000 in China have so far registered with Global Affairs Canada.