Archive for category: Deployments

CMAT Assessment, K9 and USAR Teams departing; PRELIMINARY call for volunteers and Appeal for donations

UPDATED 23:00 ET

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORMVANCOUVER – CMAT will be deploying its initial disaster assessment team in collaboration with members a British Columbia Canine and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team on Monday, to respond to the earthquake which devastated Nepal early yesterday morning. An emergency appeal for donations has been launched on CanadaHelps.org to help the people of Nepal,

The Rapid Assessment part of the Team will conduct a needs assessment in the devastated areas around the capital of Kathmandu, to ascertain the level of devastation, destroyed infrastructure, and health needs of earthquake – affected persons, in order to prepare for the potential deployment of CMAT’s inflatable field hospital and volunteer medical personnel.

The Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) part of the team will use electronic and mechanical technology to locate, rescue (extricate), and medically stabilize individuals trapped in confined spaces. It is considered a “multi-hazard” discipline, as it may be needed for a variety of emergencies or disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, storms, tornadoes, and floods. The Canine Search part of the team (handler and canine) plays a critical role in structural collapse incidents. The canines locate survivors, using their incredible sense of smell to detect live human scent, even from a survivor buried deep in rubble.

Media are invited to meet with senior CMAT Board member Bill Coltart, and the CMAT Rapid Assessment Team, which consists of:

– Dr. Pat San Agustin; Emergency Physician and CMAT Director from Edmonton, AB.
– Michael Parker; Primary Care – Paramedic from Edmonton, AB.
– Dr. Don Bethune; Emergency Physician from Calgary, AB
– Kate Auger*; Emergency Nurse Practitioner and CMAT ViceChair from Collingwood, ON (team leader)
– Brandon Duncan*: Registered Nurse from London, ON.
(*both Brandon and Kate are flying separately from Toronto)

Media are also invited to meet both human and canine members of the K9 Search and Rescue Team, which will be collaborating with CMAT in this response:

– Mark Pullen, Canine Handler and Hunter, SAR Dog from Bowen Island, BC
– Norm MacLeod, Canine Handler and Scribbles, SAR Dog from Mission, BC
– Larry Watkinson, Canine Handler and Sammy**, SAR Dog from Mission, BC (**pictured below)
– Search and Rescue/ Firefighters from the Lower Mainland.
Date: Sunday, April 26, 2015
Time: 23:30pm PT – meet and greet, interview and photo opportunity.
Location: Vancouver International Airport, adjacent to Jade Canoe Sculpture

Preliminary Call for Volunteers
As the details of the destruction trickle in, CMAT it putting out a preliminary call for medical and non-medical volunteers. Depending on the findings of the assessment and USAR teams, CMAT may deploy its inflatable field hospital, and send rotations of teams. If you wish to express your interest in volunteering with CMAT, please register as a volunteer on our website at www.canadianmedicalteams.org and complete the EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM, (download here) emailed to [email protected]. Please note that volunteers are responsible for the cost of their travel, deployment is NOT confirmed, and is entirely dependant on the findings of the assessment team.

EMERGENCY ALERT: Earthquake in Nepal

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Rescuers rush to help victims of the devestating earthquake in Nepal - April 25, 2015

Rescuers rush to help victims of the devestating earthquake in Nepal – April 25, 2015 – courtesy Huffington Post Canada

April 25, 2015: Kathmandu, Nepal – A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the densely populated Kathmandu Valley in Nepal earlier today, killing thousands, and injuring thousands more. It is being recorded as the worst earthquake to hit the country in more than 80 years*, and the death toll continues to rise.

The quake cut off power and left entire homes, temples, and other structures in the area completely destroyed. Hospitals are at their capacity and many people have been forced to take to the streets, left with little or no means of communication.  Devastation from this disaster, which has been considered 16 times more powerful than the quake that shook Haiti in 2010*, has also shook the neighbouring countries of India and Bangladesh.

Nepal’s mountainous terrain will make relief efforts more challenging, and the full extent of destruction will only be known once rural areas outside Kathmandu can be reached.

CMAT has mobilized its assessment team which will be departing for Nepal shortly.  Depending on assessment findings, a call for volunteers may be placed for further support.

Help CMAT provide medical assistance for the Nepali people at this devastating time, when they are most at risk. Donate now, so that together, we can save lives.

Donate Now Through CanadaHelps.org!

CMAT is also collecting Air Canada Aeroplan miles to help offset the costs of volunteer flights.  You can donate your aeroplan miles here:

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*Source: CBC

CMAT reflects on the decade since the Tsunami

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Tsunami devastation - Police vehicle badly damaged sits in Meuloboh street (January, 2005).

Tsunami devastation – Police vehicle badly damaged sits in Meuloboh street (January, 2005).

CMAT team are briefed by Canadian High Commission staff Rachael Bedlington (January, 2005)

CMAT team are briefed by Canadian High Commission staff Rachael Bedlington (January, 2005)

 

 

10 years ago today, many of us woke to news of a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that swept the Indian Ocean, taking with it 230,000 lives, and affecting 14 nations. The response to this disaster was unprecedented, and gave rise to a new culture of international humanitarianism. The grassroots of Canadian Medical Assistance Teams (CMAT) were established on the ground in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, and in 2015, our 10th anniversary year, we remember and honour all those affected by disaster who paid the ultimate price; and celebrate with those whose lives we helped to save.

Join us in recognizing our 10th anniversary, as we open our year-long commemoration. Helping the world, in times of disaster!

CMAT to collaborate with Oplan Kalusugan in The Philippines

CMAT Executive Director Valerie Rzepka (left), and Director of Communications Kate Auger (right) about to board Phillippine Airlines flight from Toronto to Manila.

CMAT Executive Director Valerie Rzepka (left), and Director of Communications Kate Auger (right) about to board Phillippine Airlines flight from Toronto to Manila.

 

May 11, 2014 – Toronto, ON.

Earlier today, CMAT Executive Director Valerie Rzepka, and Director of Communications Kate Auger boarded a Philippine Airlines flight bound for Manila.  After reviewing a project proposal called Oplan Kalusugan, submitted by a group of volunteers who have run other projects in the region, Valerie and Kate hope to collaborate on two, week-long medical projects in typhoon-affected areas of Leyte and Samar, with the view of potentially developing a longer-term relationship to provide assistance in the region.

OPLAN KALUSUGANThe same group organized “Oplan Kabuhayan” and “Oplan Hatid”, which helped to provide livelihood for people in Haiyan-affected areas.

Coordinating with volunteer doctors from the Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Manila, the team will be focusing their efforts on Tacbloban City, and Guiuan, Eastern Samar, and their environs.

 

From our fundraising efforts last fall for typhoon victims, CMAT will contribute $34,000 CAD to for this particular project, which aims to provide free medical, dental and basic surgical services to more than 10,000 people living in areas severely affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

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CMAT wishes to extend our sincerest thanks to Philippine Airlines for its ongoing support of CMAT’s work in the Philippines, and to Innovatek Medical for its donation of point-of-care testing kits for this project!

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Follow the progress of these CMAT/ Oplan projects on twitter!

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CMAT mentioned in DFATD monthly newsletter

© Cpl Ariane Montambeault, Canadian Forces Combat Camera

© Cpl Ariane Montambeault, Canadian Forces Combat Camera

 

CMAT Team Leader Kate Auger briefs Minister Paradis on CMAT's relief efforts in Ormoc City, Leyte.

CMAT Team Leader Kate Auger briefs Minister Paradis on CMAT’s relief efforts in Ormoc City, Leyte.

Courtesy DFATD-MAECD: Canadian assistance to the Philippines

Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie  Christian Paradis visited the areas hardest hit by Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines on November 8, 2013. The visit took place two weeks after the natural disaster, which affected 13 million people. The Minister met with representatives of the local government and both Canadian and foreign humanitarian agencies. He saw for himself how Canadian assistance was having an impact and improving people’s lives.

Emergency relief teams were on site to carry out humanitarian assistance activities. Minister Paradis also met with organizations responding to the tragedy. These organizations include UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), Save the Children, Plan International, World Vision, Oxfam, CANADIAN MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TEAMS, the Philippine Red Cross, CARE Canada, and Doctors Without Borders. Thanks to Canada’s support and donations from Canadians, these organizations have been able to distribute food, materials needed to build shelters, and bed nets to prevent malaria. They have also been able to provide water, sanitation and health services. In addition, they have been able to provide education and protection for children, psychosocial support, health care, reproductive health services, and nutrition.

Complete article about Canadian assistance to the Philippines

For more information : Canada’s Response to Typhoon Haiyan