The Canadian government has announced it is sending money to Caribbean areas recently affected by Hurricane Dean and is inviting Canadian citizens abroad to help out.

The country's Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Bernier and Minister of International Cooperation Beverley J. Oda announced this week that as much as $2 million in immediate assistance will be made available, according to a statement from the Foreign Affairs Media Office.

“This support will help international aid agencies and non-governmental organizations meet the urgent needs of people severely affected. Canada also stands ready to provide additional help where needed to assist with relief and reconstruction,” Oda said.

For more information on how to help, see
http://geo.international.gc.ca/cip-pic/cip-pic/library/hurricane_dean-en.aspx.

Hurricane Dean hit St. Lucia, the Dominican Republic, Dominica, Martinique, Haiti, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and grew to a Category 5 hurricane Tuesday as it tore across Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.