Australia Commits $1 Million Towards Peace in Sri Lanka

MEDIA RELEASE

Released By:
Sullivan

I am pleased to announce that Australia
will provide $1 million towards building a lasting peace for conflict-ravaged
areas in the North and East of Sri Lanka.

More than one and a half million people
living in these areas continue to be affected by a 15-year civil war.

Of these, approximately 600,000 are
children aged under 18, many of whom have lost one or both parents. Some have
witnessed their relatives being killed, maimed or disabled.

These people need help to overcome the
disruption and trauma caused by years of conflict. Australia will support the
work of two international aid agencies helping Sri Lankan children and women
deal with the effects of armed conflict.

These agencies are also assisting people
who are finally able to return to their homes by improving their community's
infrastructure.

$500,000 will be provided to the United Nations
Children's Fund (UNICEF) to promote landmine awareness, help find extended
families for orphans, provide rehabilitation for children affected by conflict
and reintegrate disabled children into normal activities and schooling.

$500,000 will be provided to the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to help rebuild social
and economic infrastructure. Funds will be provided for programs to assist
families to earn income through cottage industries such as dairying, fishing,
seafood processing and vegetable marketing. Communities will also be supported
with wells for drinking water, trauma counselling for conflict resolution and
educational supplies.

Australians will assist in managing and monitoring
these projects, which are an important stepping-stone to help conflict-affected
communities return to a normal life.

The contribution to UNICEF also represents another
practical expression of the Australian Government's commitment to the
eradication of the use of landmines. .