Canadian Forces plane delivering emergency aid to help Burmese
Last Updated: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 | 9:33 PM ET
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Canadian aid is on its way to help the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma.
A Canadian Forces C-17 Globemaster cargo plane was loaded with relief supplies, including emergency shelter kits, at CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario Wednesday morning.
Officials said 2,000 emergency shelter kits would be distributed by the International Red Cross in Burma after the flight arrives in Thailand on Friday.
They said the kits will provide shelter for about 10,000 people affected by the cyclone. The shipment is part of the initial $2-million commitment Canada made on May 5 to respond to the disaster.
According to the United Nations, there are still more than one million people in Burma who have yet to receive aid in the aftermath of the cyclone that hit the country on May 3.
The UN says Burma's military government is still not co-operating sufficiently to meet the needs of the victims.
While Canada has offered up to $2 million in emergency aid to help the Burmese, the opposition Liberals kept up their criticisms Wednesday that the Conservative government was not doing enough.
"By international comparison, Australia has committed $25 million, the British $10 million, the Japanese $11 million," Deputy Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff told the House of Commons during question period. "Why aren't we giving more when we can clearly do so?"
Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier said Canada has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the situation in Burma and how to get more aid into the country.
"We are urging Burma to open its doors to Canada," he said.
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