Canada is deploying an assessment team from its military DART disaster assistance unit to determine how it might help Nepal cope with the massive earthquake that has hit the mountainous nation hard and killed more than 1,400.

"Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to all those affected by this disaster," Johanna Quinney, a spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson said.

"In response to this disaster, Canada is deploying our Disaster Assistance Response Assessment Team and is contributing $5-million to relief efforts.‎"

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Canada's Disaster Assistance Response Team, known as DART, is made up of Canadian Armed Forces members who are trained to respond quickly to humanitarian emergencies abroad. The team's recent deployment include the 2013 typhoon in the Philippines and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

DART's expertise includes providing medical care, clean drinking water, infrastructure and communication assistance.

The Canadian government says there are 388 Canadians registered as being in Nepal, but cautions that is only an estimate as registration is voluntary.

With a report from The Canadian Press