MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
The Australian Government has boosted its contribution to emergency relief efforts in southern Africa where it is estimated five million people need urgent food aid in Malawi.
Australia will provide $2 million in emergency relief to support the United Nations emergency response to the crippling food crisis in Malawi. The funds will be channelled through the World Food Programme (WFP) for urgently needed food for malnourished children and the most vulnerable households.
This brings Australia's humanitarian and emergency assistance to southern Africa to $6 million for 2005-2006. Demands on Australia's emergency funds for Africa have reached unprecedented levels in the past 18 months, with southern Africa experiencing its fourth consecutive year of drought.
The Malawi crisis has been compounded by its high HIV/AIDS infection rate for adults, chronic poverty, and increasing numbers of orphans and refugees due to famine and disease.
The Australian Government through AusAID continues to provide emergency food assistance to around eight million people in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Uganda, Lesotho, and Swaziland and is closely monitoring ongoing humanitarian needs across Africa.
Australia's total official development assistance to Africa during 2005-2006 will be an estimated $77 million and will be used to respond to humanitarian crises, fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS, promoting good governance and improving the delivery of basic services.
Images are available at www.ausaid.gov.au/downloads
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