MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
Additional Australian Support for Humanitarian Efforts in Iraq
I announce today that Australia will provide a further $7.5 million to assist
in preparations for humanitarian relief operations in Iraq.
This new assistance brings the total of our humanitarian preparedness
contribution to $17.5 million. We have previously allocated $10 million to UN
humanitarian agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross for
humanitarian assistance planning and preparation.
The new funding will help agencies including UNICEF, UNHCR and selected
Australian NGOs with experience in the region, to support vulnerable
communities, particularly Iraqi women and children, and to establish refugee
facilities in Jordan.
Australia will also be providing highly qualified Australian aid personnel to
fill key positions in international humanitarian agencies.
Australia has a proud record of providing humanitarian assistance and
emergency aid and Australians can be reassured that we will make significant
further contributions towards humanitarian assistance.
With our international partners, we are also actively seeking to ensure that
the suspended UN Oil-for-Food Programme can be resumed as quickly as possible to
meet vital humanitarian needs in Iraq.
We support a strong UN role in post-conflict Iraq, and we welcome the
commitment made in the Azores statement by the US, UK and Spanish leaders which
foreshadowed a significant role for international institutions, including the
UN, in reconstruction, humanitarian relief and supporting a transitional
post-conflict administration in Iraq.
Contacts:
Chris Kenny (Minister's office) (02) 6277 7500 or 0419 206 890
Jo Elsom (AusAID) (02) 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489