MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Gallus
Australia will provide an extra $1.5 million to help rid Afghanistan of
landmines.
This takes to $3 million the amount committed to land mine action in
Afghanistan since last September.
Afghanistan is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world,
according to Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Australian
Ambassador for Mine Action, Chris Gallus.
'Best estimates suggest there are some 10 million mines scattered across the
country - live and ready to kill and maim innocent people going about their
everyday lives,' she said.
'Throughout the world, hundreds of men, women and children are killed or
suffer horrific injuries every day as a result of landmines.
'But the impact goes deeper than that - increasing poverty by preventing
farmers from using land to graze livestock or grow crops.'
Mrs Gallus said the shocking impact of landmines emphasised the importance of
the 1997 Ottawa Convention, which bans the use, production, stockpiling and
sale, transfer or export of anti-personnel landmines.
Australia was one of the first signatories, and more than 140 States have now
joined.
'It is appropriate the Afghan Transitional Authority recently decided to
accede to the Ottawa Convention as well,' she said.
Mine action funding is channelled through the UN Mine Action Program.
'By 2005, Australia will have spent at least $100 million in countries
afflicted by this scourge - removing landmines, rehabilitating survivors and
educating communities about the dangers,' Mrs Gallus said.
In the past 12 months, Australia has committed more than $50 million towards
humanitarian relief and reconstruction in Afghanistan, including a contribution
to the World Food Program last month of Australian wheat valued at $7
million.
Contacts:
Craig Bildstien (Office of Mrs Gallus) 02 62774840 or 0407 604 437
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489