Canada to increase tsunami aid by $28m

Canada to increase tsunami aid by $28m

Agence France-Presse, Ottawa

Canada will increase its reconstruction aid for tsunami victims in South Asia by 33 million Canadian dollars (US$28 million), International Cooperation Minister Aileen Carroll announced on Tuesday (Wednesday in Jakarta).

According to the Canadian International Development Agency, US$8.3 million of that amount will be provided to Indonesia, $17.6 million to Sri Lanka and the Maldive Islands, and $2.1 million to India.

"One year after the tsunami, Canada's aid continues to make a difference," Carroll said. "We know that reconstruction will take years."

The Canadian government and local non-governmental organization have already provided $73 million in aid to victims of the tsunami that struck the region on Dec. 26, 2004.