MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Gallus
Australia will provide $1 million in emergency food aid to the people of
East Timor, the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Mrs Chris Gallus
announced today.
'Australia's assistance is in response to a World Food Programme
appeal and will provide vulnerable families with essential food items,
including maize and beans,' Mrs Gallus said.
'Families in some areas are already reducing the frequency and size of
meals, and resorting to eating low-nutrition bush foods to survive.
'More than 110,000 people are expected to suffer food shortages from
November this year until March next year.
'Food shortages caused by a two-year drought in East Timor have been
exacerbated in some areas by recent flooding with worst-affected communities
located in the highlands and the more remote and isolated areas,' Mrs
Gallus said.
The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) has been
working closely with the World Food Programme and the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organisation in preparing a response to the crisis.
Media contacts:
Shane Fairlie (Office of Mrs Gallus) 02 6277 4840 or 0408 680 442
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489