Canada sending more money to the Philippines

Canada is contributing more money to humanitarian relief in the Philippines.

Authorities there now say more than four million people have been displaced by typhoon Haiyan. And many are still in desperate need of food, shelter and water. So far nearly four thousand people have died and nearly 12-hundred are still missing including 47 Canadians. Speaking in Toronto, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that beyond the financial aid, Canadian soldiers are on the ground helping people directly with food, clean water and medical care: “We want to announce today that the government of Canada is increasing it’s financial assistance. In fact, we’re quadrupling that. And part of that, you should all know, is in response to the generous donations of Canadians. The matching fund that the government has set up is closing in on $20 million of assistance from the people of Canada. So we should all feel good about that but there’s much more work to be done.”

Foreign Affairs is also tracking down Canadians missing since the typhoon hit more than a week ago.