MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
Australia is to provide a further $2 million to assist the resettlement of
refugees returning to Rwanda and to help support the network of human rights
monitors in the country.
Over $100 000 is to go to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights and I was delighted to have been able to pass this information to the
High Commissioner, Mr Jose Ayalo-Lasso when I met him in Geneva today.
This brings Australia's total contribution to UNHCHR operations in Rwanda to
$600 000 over recent years.>
The remainder of the funds will go to support Australian Non Government
Organisations (NGOs) working in a range of areas. Assistance includes support
and trauma counselling for children separated from their families during the
civil war and rebuilding much needed water supply and sanitation systems.
Since late last year, over a million Rwandans have returned from refugee
camps in surrounding countries, particularly Zaire and Tanzania. Most had fled
Rwanda during the bloody civil war in 1994 in which hundreds of thousands of
people died in horrific massacres.
The Australian Government believes that the successful reintegration of the
returnees is crucial for reconciliation throughout central Africa.
The Government of Rwanda has an enormous and delicate task ahead to
reintegrate the returnees into their communities. It has identified community
water and sanitation systems as one of the highest priorities for assistance -
access to clean water removes a potential source of conflict within
communities.
The $2 million is being provided through AusAID, the Australian Agency for
International Development, to:
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights - to support its
network of human rights monitors.AngliCORD (The Archbishop of Melbourne's International Relief and
Development Fund) - to support an indigenous NGO providing services, including
trauma counselling, to unaccompanied children;Australian Red Cross Society - to provide safe water supplies,
sanitation and health education to rural communities in north-west Rwanda;CARE Australia - to provide potable water to approximately 14 000
people in communes in south-east Rwanda;Community Aid Abroad - to provide safe water, sanitation and health
education to rural villages in southern Rwanda;
GENEVA
Media contact: Peter Collins (Mr Downer's
Office) 06 277 7500/0411 414 695
Andrea McLaughlin (AusAID) 06 206
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