Karygiannis urges Harper Government to immediately offer DART to the Philippines
TORONTO – The Honourable Jim Karygiannis, Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Agincourt, today pressed the Harper government to send Canada ’s DART (Disaster Assistance Response Team) to the Philippines , in the wake of two typhoons that have pounded the country within a week.
“The Philippines has been ravaged by the brute force of Typhoons Ketsana and Parma . Infrastructure and villages have been obliterated; hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced; death tolls are climbing; and, people are in desperate need of emergency humanitarian aid.” said Mr. Karygiannis. “Meanwhile, the Harper Government is still ‘considering its options’ about its response to this disaster.”
On September 26, 2009, Typhoon Ketsana, the worst tropical storm to hit the Philippines in nearly half a century poured a month’s worth of rain on Manila in just twelve hours. The devastation, in the City of Manila and twenty-five provinces, is widespread with people still wading through waist deep water. A week later, Typhoon Parma slammed into the northern province of Luzon , packing winds of 100 to 130 kilometres per hour and torrential rain.
“The Philippines is being battered by Mother Nature’s fury. Relief workers are battling mudslides, widespread flooding and heavy rains in order to administer medical aid, provide food, shelter and other necessities of life.” Mr. Karygiannis commented. “The Harper government has a moral responsibility to offer DART to the Philippines in this time of great need.”
DART is part of Canada ’s Department of National Defence. It can only be deployed, if requested to do so, by a country in need. DART can deploy within twelve hours of orders being given.
“The Harper government can offer to send DART to a foreign country in need after a natural disaster. What is this government waiting for? The need is great. The time for action is now.” Mr. Karygiannis further commented.
Mr. Karygiannis will attend a mass for the victims and survivors of Typhoons Ketsana and Parma which hit the Philippines this week.