Canadian Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew announced Thursday that Canada is freezing debt repayment for South and Southeast Asian countries that were hit by a deadly earthquake and subsequent tsunamis.
"In addition to helping with the urgent humanitarian need in the region," he said, "Canada will put in place with immediate effect and for the foreseeable future, a debt moratorium for the tsunami-effected countries."
"In this way we will address not only the immediate crisis, but also provide significant support in helping the rebuilding efforts of these countries," he said.
Meanwhile, Canadian Defense Minister Bill Graham told reporters the Canadian federal government is following a "multilateral, multidisciplinary and multifaceted" approach to relief efforts.
Canada has decided to provide 40 million Canadian dollars ( about US$33 million) in aid, and will immediately send a 17-member reconnaissance team charged with determining the need for Canada's crack military emergency response unit.
The death toll from the massive tsunamis in South and Southeast Asian countries has risen to over 115,000.