MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce a number of measures to address the relief and development needs of Palestinian refugees in the Middle East, valued at almost $3.4 million.
Australia has been providing assistance to the Middle East for many years, with our program of assistance for the Palestinian people the main focus. As the oldest refugee population in the world, the needs of these people are a constant concern for us.
Australia will provide an additional $1 million in 1998 for the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) which plays an important role in providing services to the Palestine refugees in its five areas of operation. These funds are intended for the income generation activities undertaken by UNRWA as we see these activities as the trend of the future in fostering greater self-reliance among the refugee population.
UNRWA has experienced, in the past few years, a series of budget problems caused in part by the growth in the refugee population and in part by falling donor contributions. Australia has contributed nearly $9 million to UNRWA over the last three years.
Mental health is an area too often neglected in conflict zones. Australia will provide $342,000 in 1998 for a day care centre for Palestinian victims of the intifada. The day care centre - an initiative of the Australian Red Cross - will help those victims of the violence in the region who have suffered psychological trauma to return to society.
Australia will provide an additional $50,000 for the fit out of the Forensic Laboratory of the Palestinian Civil Police in Gaza. This will enable the provision of a large quantity of technical equipment to be provided by another donor and for the laboratory to commence operation. This is a very practical example of how Australia can facilitate a good outcome by carefully targeting the key constraints to development.
Similarly, Australia is soon to begin an agricultural capacity building project valued at $2 million over four years. Agricultural development is central to the future of the Palestinian people as the mainstay of the Palestinian economy. Our focus on strengthening they key Palestinian agricultural institutions is expected to act as a catalyst for other donors to become involved in the sector.
GAZA
Media contacts:
Mike Smith (Gaza) 0011 972 7628 1801 Innes Willox (Minister's Office) (02) 6277 7500 / 0411 414 695 Matt Francis (AusAID) (02) 6206 4967 / 0417 683 126