Ottawa to match up to $10 million in donations for Turkey-Syria earthquake relief

The federal government, in a news release, announced that it would match up to $10 million in donations to the Canadian Red Cross for relief efforts in disaster-stricken Turkey and Syria after the nations saw a trail of destruction due to a series of earthquakes in the past few days.

All donations to the Canadian Red Cross between February 6 and February 22 will be matched by Canada up to $10 million, the federal government stated in the news release.

“Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, announced that Canada will match donations to the Canadian Red Cross Earthquake in Türkiye and Syria Appeal. Every donation made by individuals to the Canadian Red Cross between February 6 and 22, 2023, will be matched, up to a maximum of $10 million,” the news release read.

“Once the matching period ends, the Canadian Red Cross will allocate the total amount of funding to support the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in its response to the humanitarian needs caused by the earthquakes. These critical funds will allow the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to support immediate and ongoing humanitarian efforts,” the statement further added.

Speaking of the federal initiative, International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan said, “The generosity of Canadians when a crisis strikes is always remarkable, and their efforts in times of need make a difference. This is why the government is joining with Canadians in supporting our Red Cross partners on the ground that are providing urgent, life-saving assistance to help those impacted by this tragedy.”

Sajjan, via Twitter, also added that a relief team from Canada, comprising Global Affairs Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces experts, is on its way to Turkey to help aid the humanitarian efforts in the nation. The team is deployed to examine and report back to Canada any additional assistance that Canada can provide.

“A joint @GAC_Corporate and @CanadianForces Canadian Disaster Assessment Team (CDAT) is currently en route to Türkiye, assessing what tools Canada can best use to respond to the widespread devastation, and to help those in need,” the International Development Minister tweeted.

A joint @GAC_Corporate and @CanadianForces Canadian Disaster Assessment Team (CDAT) is currently en route to Türkiye, assessing what tools Canada can best use to respond to the widespread devastation, and to help those in need.

— Harjit Sajjan (@HarjitSajjan) February 8, 2023