Some 100 members of Canada's Disaster Assistance Response Team returned home Sunday after spending more than a month providing relief to the people of earthquake-ravaged Nepal.
The team touched down Sunday afternoon at Canadian Forces Base Trenton in eastern Ontario. They were greeted by Veterans Affairs Minister Erin O'Toole who thanked them for their work.
"You were deployed over there quickly and made an effort; hundreds helped medically and thousands got clean water and sanitation," O'Toole said.
"And you guys do it with remarkable professionalism, (and) you show the best of Canada all across the world so please know all Canadians appreciate your efforts," he added.
Along with O'Toole, some of the military's senior brass were on hand for DART's return.
The team was deployed to Nepal on April 25, days after Nepal was struck by a 7.8-magnitude quake, which left 8,000 people dead.
Their focus was on providing water purification, medical care and engineering support.
During their month-long mission in the country, DART treated more than 700 patients, distributed 75 water-filtration units and provided access to clean drinking water for roughly 3,400 people.
DART handed out 750 maps and visuals to Nepalese authorities and other aids groups. Its engineers were also responsible for clearing roads and removing about 730 dump-truck loads of rubble.
The team had some tense moments as they operated in a country that was still being struck by powerful aftershocks. A second earthquake also temporarily cut of one of their teams from their main base.
DART's return comes after the Canadian government, the United Nations and Nepal determined there is no longer a critical need for foreign military operations in the country.
UNICEF spokesperson Kent Page said he saw DART in action.
"In (the Sindhupalchowk District) after the second earthquake, where there was landslides that were blocking the roads … the Canadians did a great job clearing those landslides so relief supplies could get through," Page told Â鶹´«Ã½ Channel.
Page said Nepal is still dealing with widespread damage, and that UNICEF is currently "racing against the clock" as the monsoon season is approaching in the next two to three weeks.
He said the humanitarian aid group hopes to continue to deliver health services and water sanitation before many of Nepal's roads become "impassable."
"The extent of the damage is huge, it's vast and it's also in remote communities where you can get to sort of main towns but then you have to drive another two hours along dirt roads (and) mountain sides," said Page.
"You'll come across villages that basically don't exist – they're completely flattened – all the hospitals, the health clinics, the schools, the homes (are) destroyed, so there is a lot of the work that still needs to be done."
With files from The Canadian Press
