Aerial photo shows the destruction in Hatay city centre, southern Turkey, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. Donations are pouring into a Vancouver warehouse for those affected by Monday's devastating earthquake in Turkey but a volunteer organizer says the country could most benefit from professional search and rescues teams.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, IHA
OTTAWA – A senior government official says a Canadian assessment team is on its way to Turkey to determine how Canada can contribute to earthquake relief efforts.
International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan was expected to formally announce the deployment of the Canadian Disaster Assessment Team this evening.
The senior official, who spoke on background pending Sajjan’s official confirmation, said the team consists of a handful of military and Global Affairs officials.
The official underscored that the deployment of the team does not automatically guarantee a further deployment of Canadian resources to the country.
The earthquake, which razed thousands of buildings in Turkey and Syria on Monday, is one of the deadliest quakes worldwide in more than a decade and the federal government is facing criticism that the window to help with rescue efforts is closing.
Search teams from more than two dozen countries have joined tens of thousands of local emergency personnel and Canadian humanitarian aid workers with charitable organizations were arriving Wednesday
Defence Minister Anita Anand said late Tuesday that the federal government had not ruled out sending a Disaster Assistance Response Team, to help with the recovery effort, but that it was working to figure out what would be most useful.
The assessment team would recommend whether to send additional support, such as a DART.
Earlier Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the federal government would match funds donated to Canadian Red Cross relief efforts up to $10 million on top of an initial aid package of $10 million.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 8, 2023.
