earthquake Archives - Page 8 of 18 - Canadian Medical Assistance Teams

Haiti earthquake – 6 months on

2010 - Haïti Earthquake, Deployments

Children at a local orphanage send their thanks for helping CMAT to provide them with basic medical care.

July 12, 2010 – Today marks 6 months since the devestating earthquake struck Haiti, killing over 200,000 people and rendering well over 1,000,000 homeless. CMAT Executive Director Valerie Rzepka reflects on the organization’s response to this crisis.

The early days

Arriving less than 72 hours after the disaster, I was part of the CMAT Assessment team which quickly set about surveying the areas in and around Port-au-Prince. While I established contact with the UN On-site Operations Coordination Centre (UN-OSOCC), UN Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA), and WHO- Pan-American Health Organization (WHO-PAHO, my colleagues on the assessment team went about scouting the region and environs for a suitable location for our field hospital, where there was the greatest need.

CMAT Executive Director visits memorial for Chinese Earthquake victims

2008 - China Earthquake, Deployments

CMAT Executive Director Valerie Rzepka honoured the memory of those lost in the the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, by visiting the town of Beichuan, preserved as a memorial to the earthquake victims, and laying flowers on behalf of Canadians at the central memorial site.

May 27, 2010 – Beichuan County, Sichuan, China – CMAT Executive Director Valerie Rzepka honoured the memory of those lost in the the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, by visiting the town of Beichuan, preserved as a memorial to the earthquake victims, and laying flowers on behalf of Canadians at the central memorial site. “Seeing the immensity of the destruction even now, two years later, is very emotional. There are children buried in the public school and entire families lost who will never be recovered.”

CMAT contributes towards Sichuan, China reconstruction efforts.

2008 - China Earthquake, Deployments

CMAT Executive Director Valerie Rzepka shakes hands and provides a donation of ¥85,000 RMB to Ms. Ma, Chairperson of Mianyang Municipal Handicapped Federation

May 26, 2010 – Mianyang, Sichuan, China – CMAT Executive Director Valerie Rzepka visited the temporary home of the Mianyang Youxian District Special Education School earlier today, and presented them with a cheque for ¥85,000 (approx $12,500 CAD). “CMAT is very excited to be able to contribute to the reconstruction of the special education school, which was destroyed in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake”, she said.

Worst Earthquake in over a century hits Haiti

2010 - Haïti Earthquake, Deployments

People carry an injured person in Port-au-Prince after the largest earthquake ever recorded in the area rocked Haiti on Tuesday. (Radio Tele Ginen/ Associated Press)

Wednesday January 13, 2010 – Port-au-Prince, Haiti: A magnitude 7.0 quake with more then 20 aftershocks to date struck shortly before 5 p.m. the U.S. Geological Survey reported. It could be felt strongly in eastern Cuba, more than 200 miles away. The capitol has been largely destroyed.

CMAT Relief effort in China to change focus.

2008 - China Earthquake, Deployments

CMAT assessment photo of devastation in Sichuan, China.

Thursday May 22, 2008 – TORONTO/ VANCOUVER: Canadian Medical Assessment Team (CMAT) Response Coordinators established contact early yesterday morning by satellite phone with the CMAT assessment team in earthquake-affected Sichuan, China. The assessment team advised that the Chinese government, military and local Red Cross have done a commendable job in the rescue and recovery effort. At present, there are 100,000+ Chinese Military and over 1000 medical staff in the region, and most seriously injured citizens have already been evacuated to larger centres.