MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Gallus
The Federal Government will allocate a further $4.4 million to help rid
Cambodia of landmines, Australia's Special Representative for Mine Action, Chris
Gallus, MP, announced today.
Australia has now invested $33 million on mine action in Cambodia.
Mrs Gallus, the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, made the
announcement at a joint function with World Vision Australia in the grounds of
Parliament House, Canberra.
The function marked the conclusion of the 'Destroy a Minefield - Rebuild
Lives' campaign, a joint initiative of World Vision Australia and the Federal
Government to help Cambodia eliminate landmines.
Under the program, World Vision set a target of raising $800,000 over two
years, with the Commonwealth pledging to match every $2 raised with another $1.
Most of the funds were raised through World Vision's 40-Hour Famine.
Mrs Gallus said the $1.2 million result had had a real impact and helped save
lives, with mine casualties in Cambodia now down from more than 3000 a year to
about 800.
'By 2005, Australia will have spent at least $100 million in countries
afflicted by this scourge - removing landmines, rehabilitating survivors and
educating people about the dangers,' she said.
'Tens of millions of landmines remain in place - live - and ready to kill and
injure civilians going about their everyday lives, and while we have made
progress, we must continue to persevere in getting rid of these horribly lethal
explosives.'
In September, Mrs Gallus announced $1.5 million for demining activities in
Afghanistan, taking to $3 million the amount pledged for this purpose since
September 2001.
Media contacts:
Craig Bildstien (Office of Mrs Gallus) 0407 604 437
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489