The Canadian government has decided to donate 3 million Canadian dollars (about US$2.4 million) in additional relief aid to the South Asian countries hit by a devastating earthquake and tsunamis, Canadian Defense Minister Bill Graham said Monday.
The money, which brings Canada's total donation to 4 million Canadian dollars (about US$3.3 million) to South and Southeast Asian countries, will be sent to the International Red Cross and Canadian non-governmental Organizations.
"This is an immediate response, it's not the last," Graham said during a Monday news conference.
Canada will also provide blankets, water purification devices and generators through the Canadian International Development Agency. A Canadian Forces aircraft will be available to shuttle donated goods to the affected areas, according to Graham.
"In addition, our embassies in the region are being beefed up with additional personnel to enable them both to help the local populations but also to trace Canadians that are in trouble in the region," Graham said.
An earthquake, with a magnitude of 8.7 according to the China Earthquake Administration, occurred early Sunday morning off the west coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The following tsunamis swept across the coastal countries of the Indian Ocean rim Sunday, destroying villages, flooding cities and killing more than 23,700 people.