Wednesday, January 11, 2012

ARTICLE - CANADA - $19.9 MILLION - 5,000 FAMILIES

CANADA TO SPEND $19.9 MILLION TO RESETTLE 5,000 FAMILIES IN HAITI
(Global News) -

MONTREAL - Canada says it will resettle 5,000 families displaced by the earthquake that struck Haiti two years ago.

The federal government is also planning to restore the Champ de Mars, a major public park in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince.

International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda said in a statement Wednesday the 5,000 families represent about 20,000 people.

The $19.9-million commitment comes from a previously announced investment.

Oda told The Canadian Press in a recent interview that Ottawa is disappointed over the plodding reconstruction two years after the powerful earthquake slammed the fragile island nation.

She said expectations have not been met since the 7.0-magnitude quake killed more than 200,000 people, injured 300,000 and left 1.5 million Haitians homeless.

On Wednesday, Oda said Canada is proud to be part of the international efforts to help Haiti.

''We are fulfilling our commitment to the Haitian people so they can move forward to building their communities and their country," she said.

"The Champ de Mars project is a comprehensive Canadian initiative that focuses on the future of Haitian families and businesses as well as restoring a national landmark and place of pride for all Haitians as a public park for all to enjoy."

About 1,800 families are expected to be resettled in the first six months of this year, with another 3,200 to be resettled through 2013.

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