MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Billson
Australia will provide $1 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) to help
fly aid workers into western Sudan to deliver emergency assistance for
refugees, the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr Bruce Billson,
announced today.
'This contribution will support the UN humanitarian air service, managed
by the WFP, to get workers into difficult areas to help refugees from Darfur.
This funding will also help provide temporary offices and accommodation for WFP
workers,' Mr Billson said.
'Poor road infrastructure, the rainy season and the remoteness of Darfur
and the border area of Chad have made transport a major challenge and our
contribution will help ensure people in need receive assistance.
'Many Australians with a broad range of expertise are also on the ground
in Sudan and Chad working with Australian non-government organisations and UN
agencies,' Mr Billson said.
'These Australians are helping to deliver important services and manage
the critical transport and distribution of essential food aid to people in
refugee camps.
'With AusAID support, four Australian Red Cross workers are providing
assistance in health and sanitation and 10 engineers from RedR Australia, which
sends Australians to assist with international humanitarian operations, will
build classrooms for children and toilets for the refugees,' Mr Billson
said.
'More than one million people have been left homeless by the violence
and almost 200,000 refugees have crossed the border into Chad.
'Although this allocation of $1 million to the WFP completes
Australia's commitment of $20 million to the crisis in Sudan, Australia
stands ready to consider further assistance for humanitarian priorities.
'The Australian Government welcomes the UN Security Council resolution
on Darfur, and we continue to urge the Sudanese Government to fulfill
commitments made to the UN on 3 July to address the humanitarian, human rights
and security situation,' Mr Billson said.
Media inquiries:
Shane Fairlie (Mr Billson's office) 02 6277 4879 or 0408 680 442
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489