Ottawa pledges $2M to Indonesia quake victims; no Canadians reported affected

(CP) - The federal government has committed $2 million to assist victims of Saturday's devastating Indonesian earthquake that left thousands dead and decimated homes and hotels in the country's central region. "On behalf of all Canadians, I wish to extend our sympathies to the families and friends of those who lost their lives and to those communities hit by this dreadful act of nature," Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay said in a statement Saturday.

"I also want to reassure Canadians that my department and the embassy of Canada in Jakarta are in contact with local authorities to determine if any Canadian citizens have been affected."

Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Kim Girtel said Saturday there are approximately 30 Canadians registered in the affected region, and the Canadian embassy in Jakarta is trying to get in touch with those on the list.

"I am relieved to say that no Canadian death or injury has been reported to date, but efforts to reach Canadians living in the area will continue," MacKay said in a telephone interview Saturday.

He added he planned to speak with his Indonesian counterpart, Hassan Wirayuda, later in the day to determine how Canada can be most effective in assisting with relief efforts.

"That conversation will allow me to assess what further aid may be required, how the international community is responding, and our most effective way to see that goods and water and food and aid is making it to the individuals who need it most," MacKay said.

As of Saturday afternoon, Girtel said the Indonesian government had not made a formal appeal for international assistance. A request would have to be made in order for Canada's disaster assistance response team, or DART, to be deployed to the region, as it was most recently during last fall's earthquake in Pakistan.

"There has been no decision taken as yet on whether the DART team would be deployed," MacKay said. "Those are all decisions that will be taken in the near future."

Girtel said officials from Foreign Affairs, National Defence and the Canadian International Development Agency will be heading to Indonesia on Sunday to provide support to the Canadian embassy in Jakarta.

"Canada stands ready to help the victims by addressing their urgent humanitarian needs," said International Co-Operation Minister Josee Verner in a written statement Saturday.

More than 3,000 people were killed when a 6.2 magnitude earthquake flattened homes and hotels in central Indonesia early Saturday in a country still recovering from the 2004 tsunami. The death toll from the quake was still rising mid-Saturday.

Canadian aid groups are also lending support to the relief effort.

The Canadian Red Cross said it's redirecting funds from its existing pool of resources to help Indonesia with immediate emergency needs.

The Red Cross says those interested in helping victims can make donations to the Canadian Red Cross International Disaster Relief Fund.

UNICEF said they have deployed emergency staff and supplies on the ground, and the group is collecting donations by phone and online to help victims.

Dave Toycen, president and CEO of World Vision Canada, says an assessment team of between 10-12 people are heading to the affected region to survey the damage. A reserve of immediate emergency supplies is being distributed.

Toycen said World Vision Canada is looking at the possibility of sending emergency staff to the affected region. The group plans to raise $1 million as the response to the earthquake.

"We're really quite confident we'll be able to do that," Toycen said. "There's good interest, strong interest - people care."

© The Canadian Press, 2006