In response to the tsunami disaster that took place on December 26, 2004 many aid agencies are assisting in recovery efforts.

 

To date, the Government of Canada has pledged $80 million to direct relief of suffering, recovery efforts and longer-term reconstruction of damaged areas. The Government of Ontario has already donated $5 million to the Canadian Red Cross to help with relief efforts.   Both the Federal and Provincial governments have suggested that the best way to help relief efforts is to donate money to the aid agencies involved. To assist this process, the Government of Canada will allow Canadians to claim contributions made up until January 11th, on their 2004 tax return, should they wish, for the purposes of claiming charitable tax deductions.   The Department of Foreign Affairs has also established an emergency telephone line for anyone with good reason to believe that Canadian friends or relatives are in the affected area.

 

Please contact the Foreign Affairs Canada's Emergency Operations Centre at 613-944-2471 or 1-800-606-5499. The Foreign Affairs Web site is: www.fac-aec.gc.ca/menu-en.asp

 

Below is the contact information for a number of aid agencies assisting with the tsunami disaster relief.

 

Canadian Red Cross	1-800-418-1111	www.redcross.ca
Canadian Relief Organization for Peace in Sri Lanka	1-416-429-2822
Canadian Tamil Congress	1-416-751-8777
CARE Canada	1-800-267-5232	www.care.ca
Christian Children's Fund of Canada	1-800-263-5437	www.ccfcanada.ca
Development and Peace	1-888-664-3387	www.devp.org
Doctors Without Borders	1-800-982-7903	www.msf.ca
Foster Parents Plan	1-800-387-1418	www.fosterparentsplan.ca
Islamic Society of North America	1-905-403-8406
Oxfam Canada	1-800-466-9326	www.oxfam.ca
Salvation Army	1-800-725-2769	www.salvationarmy.ca
Save the Children Canada	1-800-668-5036	www.savethechildren.ca
UNICEF Canada	1-800-567-4483	www.unicef.ca
World Vision Canada	1-866-595-5550	www.worldvision.ca/home/index.cfm

 

 

Sport Mart is also accepting monetary donations at all its stores.

Information on people in the affected areas:

 

The federal government Department of Foreign Affairs has established an emergency telephone line for anyone with good reason to believe that Canadian friends or relatives are in the affected area. Please contact the Foreign Affairs Canada's Emergency Operations Centre at 613-944-2471 or 1 800 606-5499. The Foreign Affairs Web site is: www.fac-aec.gc.ca/menu-en.asp

 

 

Family members or friends wishing to report a person believed missing as a result of the South Asian tsunami can call the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Tsunami Missing Persons task force toll-free number at 1-888-543-4916 or send an e-mail message to canadatsunamivictims@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

 

Services are available in both English and French. Rather than contacting local police or Foreign Affairs Canada, family members and friends are asked to use the toll-free telephone number or contact the e-mail address for current information on a missing person file.

 

 

For more information about relief efforts, please visit the Government of Canada Web site (www.gc.ca) or the Government of Ontario Web site (www.gov.on.ca).