MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce that the welfare of children is the main focus of
the final allocation of Australia's contribution to the UN's Flash
Appeal for Iraq.
Australian funds of $5 million will be allocated to the United Nations
Children's Fund to support critical measures to improve nutrition levels
and protect children in Iraq.
An amount of $1.5 million will also be allocated to the World Food Programme
to manage the UN Joint Logistics Centre for Iraq, which supplies logistics
planning support to humanitarian agencies.
These allocations will go towards funding net requirements of the UN over
the next six months and are in response to the Revised UN Inter-Agency
Humanitarian Appeal for Iraq, which was launched on Monday 23 June.
The revised appeal takes into account donations already received and
resources available under the Oil-for-Food Programme as well as reflecting new
priorities that have emerged since the launch of the Flash Appeal in April,
when Australia responded with a commitment of $38 million.
The health and protection of children in Iraq are key priorities.
Recent surveys show that in Baghdad more than 13 per cent of children aged
under five are underweight, nearly 16 per cent suffer chronic malnutrition and
almost eight per cent suffer acute malnutrition.
As well, years of repression, human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings
have left many children as orphans, extremely vulnerable and in need of
protection-related services. Looting of child support institutions since
the end of the conflict has resulted in a visible increase in the number of
street and working children in urban centres who are at risk of exploitation
and abuse.
Overall, Australia's commitment to humanitarian relief for Iraq stands
at more than $100 million.
Contacts:
Chris Kenny (Minister's office) 02 6277 7500 or 0419 206 890
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489