Government of Canada Response toNatural Disasters Abroad

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Canadian International Response andDisaster Risk Reduction – WHY?

• Large number of people affected* In 2008, 321 disasters killed 235,816 people, affected 211 millionothers and cost a total of US$181 billion.

• Disasters undermine development* Houses, assets and incomes are lost* “We lost in 72 hours what [has] taken more than 50 years tobuild”. (Hurricane Mitch, Honduras 1998, President Carlos Flores)

• Canadian humanitarian tradition and interests* Public’s interest in helping crisis-affected people/countries

• Responsibility to provide consular support toCanadians abroad

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Conditions for Response

1. Request for assistance from thegovernment of the affected country

2. Needs assessments identifying prioritysectors for response

3. Official appeals by trustedhumanitarian partners on the ground

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Objectives of CanadianHumanitarian Action

1. To meet humanitarian needs: save lives, alleviatesuffering, and maintain human dignity;

2. To ensure a coherent, coordinated and timelyhumanitarian response, consistent with GoodHumanitarian Donorship principles;

3. To ensure consistency with international legalobligations and principles; and

4. To support effective disaster risk reductionefforts (prevention, preparedness, mitigation, etc).

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Government of CanadaCoordination Mechanisms

• Standard Operating Procedures inResponse to Natural Disasters Abroad(“SOPs”)� 24/7 stand-by and response capacity

• Standing Interdepartmental Task Force

• After-action Reviews (lessons learned)

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How it comes together

REQUEST FROM ANAFFECTED COUNTRY

CANADIAN MISSION UN, RC, NGOs

DISASTER TASK FORCE

PCO DFAITDND CIC, CBSA, PS,PHAC/HCCIDA

OTHER GOVERNMENTDEPARTMENTS

PROVINCES/TERRITORIES

CANADIAN PRIVATE SECTOR

Natural Disasters-Decision making principles

High Impact Disaster

DFAIT convenes the Taskforce(DFAIT/CIDA/DND/PS, etc.)

Mission/Humanitarian PartnersAssessment

Affected Country’s Request

ISST/DART RECCEAssessment

TaskforceRecommendation

MINA/MINE/MND

Announcement

Cabinet

CF Deployment

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Government of CanadaResponse Toolkit

• Cash contributions inresponse to appeals

• Deployment of reliefsupplies

• Deployment ofCanadian experts

• Canadian Forcesassets

• Other specialmeasures

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This WoG Approachhas Ensured:

•That responses to natural disasters abroad aretimely, effective, needs-based and appropriate.

•That our work demonstrates commitment to highstandards of effectiveness and efficiency.

•That we remain oriented toward tangible resultsand continuous learning.