MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
Australia will contribute $4.18 million in direct food aid and refugee
assistance for victims of conflict and drought in southern Sudan and the Great
Lakes region of central Africa.
'The recent combined effects of conflict, drought and floods have had tragic
consequences for people living in the region,' said Mr Thomson.
Following a recent field visit to the region by an officer from AusAID, the
Australian Government's international aid agency, it was decided to provide food
aid to victims of drought in Tanzania and to those affected by the conflict in
southern Sudan. As part of a program designed to increase self-reliance, seeds
will also be distributed to displaced Ugandans.
In Rwanda and Burundi, a total of $350 000 will be used to fund human rights
monitoring programs.
'It is of paramount importance that efforts focus on helping people recover
from the effects of the devastating war and these measures will assist in
preventing any future outbreak of hostilities,' Mr Thomson said.
Assistance is also being provided to help local health workers contain
outbreaks of typhus in Burundi.
Australia is also contributing $130 000 to the Department of Humanitarian
Affairs information network. The Integrated Regional Information Network
provides vital information on humanitarian crises to government officers based
in Canberra, Nairobi and Geneva and it is critical it be maintained.
Details of the way in which the $4.18 million dollars is to be spent are
outlined in the following table.
|
Country/Program |
Amount |
Details of Expenditure |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda (Northern) | $1.2 million | Contribution to the Food and Agriculture Organisation to assist conflict affected farmers with seeds and tools. |
| Tanzania | $1 million | Contribution to the World Food Program (WFP) for emergency food aid for drought victims. |
| Southern Sudan | $1 million | Emergency food aid through the WFP for displaced persons. |
| Rwanda United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights |
$250 000 | Human Rights field operations for Rwanda |
| Burundi | $500 000 | UNICEF for typhus immunisation and essential drugs program |
| Burundi. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights |
$100 000 | Human rights field operations in Burundi |
| The Department of Humanitarian Affairs | $130 000 | Contribution to the Integrated Regional Information Network . |
Media contact: David Alexander (Mr Thomson's office) 06
277 4665 Mark Giffard (AusAID) 06 206 4968