Disaster in South and Southeast Asia - An Update

September 2005 - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has been working with other government agencies both in Canada and in countries affected since the disaster happened in December 2004 to provide assistance to Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their dependents.

The CBSA had imposed a temporary deferral of removals to the regions or countries that were the most affected by the tsunami. As reconstruction progressed over the last six months, this deferral was lifted for some regions. The situation has improved and stabilized to a point where Canada can now return inadmissible individuals to all regions that were affected.

As a consequence, the CBSA has now lifted its temporary deferral of removals to all regions of Sri Lanka. Removals to other countries affected by the tsunami had already resumed as per usual procedures.

Under the Canada/United States Reciprocal Arrangement, removals to the United States of nationals of the countries listed previously had already resumed on April 7, 2005. Removals of inadmissible Sri Lankan nationals will also resume immediately.

For more information, consult our fact sheet on Removals.

For more information about Canadian relief efforts in Asia, visit the Canadian International Development Agency.