MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce details of the Australian Government's pledge to provide nearly $4 million in emergency relief to drought-stricken families in eastern Indonesia.
Australia is providing up to $4 million through non-government aid organisations to help distribute food to tens of thousands of families and help family members find work.
The assistance will be channelled through five Australian non-government organisations experienced in operating in eastern Indonesia.
- $967,483 will be provided to CARE Australia to distribute food to people in Sikka and Ende Districts on the island of Flores, in return for work on community development projects.
- $333,307 will be provided to Plan International Australia to distribute food to families in South Sulawesi and Nusa Tengarra Timur. Where possible, food will be provided in return for work. Community health posts in the above areas and in Nusa Tengarra Barat will also receive essential medicines to control water-borne diseases.
- $1 million will be provided to UNICEF Australia to expand an emergency food relief program currently operating in Java to the eastern islands of Indonesia. The program aims to provide a cereal supplement, which has been boosted with nutrients, for 90,000 infants (aged 6 to 12 months) over the next three months.
- $999,461 will be provided to World Vision Australia to open 20 supplementary feeding centres for up to 10,000 people suffering malnutrition in the worst affected areas of East Sumba. A further 35,000 people will receive food rations in return for working mainly on irrigation and environmental projects.
- $639,050 will be provided to the Christian Children's Fund of Australia to provide food in return for work to about 12,000 families in eastern Indonesia.
This $4 million is part of the $5.5 million emergency assistance package I announced last week following recent High Level Aid Consultations between Australia and Indonesia.
The drought has significantly reduced crop production across the archipelago with national rice production down 10 per cent and the maize harvest, which is the staple crop in the eastern islands, down 30 per cent. This further assistance is a sign of Australia's willingness to assist our near neighbour, Indonesia, through the difficulties resulting from the protracted drought and economic crisis.
Media contacts:
Innes Willox (Minister's Office) 02 6277 7500 / 0411 414 695
Michelle Hardy (AusAID Canberra) 02 6206 4968