From relief Web

Friday’s (25) announcement of $350,000 is supporting the efforts of the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to strengthen the international humanitarian system’s preparedness and response capacity to meet emergency needs in Latin America and the Caribbean region.

With this contribution from Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada, OCHA is:

•strengthening humanitarian leadership and capacity during major humanitarian crises;

•improving decision-making capacity of humanitarian leadership, including the use of standardized needs assessments in all emergency settings;

•improving in-country monitoring systems, with country operations being better able to publish comprehensive, real-time monitoring information on results; and

•enhancing preparedness of the humanitarian community for the 2014 hurricane season.

OCHA’s mandate is to mobilize and coordinate effective humanitarian action in partnership with national and international partners in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate for the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention; and facilitate sustainable solutions

Canada’s response to humanitarian crises

Canada helps save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain the dignity of people in developing countries affected by conflict, natural disasters, and situations of food insecurity requiring a humanitarian response. Canada is providing funding to support the appropriate, timely, and effective response of international and Canadian humanitarian organizations.

For more information on Canada’s response to humanitarian crises around the world, please visit the page Response to Humanitarian Crises.

Canada’s Strategy for Engagement in the Americas

Canada’s Strategy for Engagement in the Americas is a whole-of-government approach toward a more prosperous, secure and democratic hemisphere. More than 30 federal partners are working together to advance the strategy to deepen Canada’s engagement in the region. Canada is also working with global, regional and local partners towards the following three goals:

1.increasing mutual economic opportunity;

2.strengthening security and institutions; and

3.fostering lasting relationships.

For more on this story go to: http://reliefweb.int/report/world/canada-s-humanitarian-funding-ocha-latin-america-and-caribbean-region

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