MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Sullivan
Women and young children affected by malnutrition, people displaced by ethnic conflict, and drought-affected farming families will be among some of the groups in Indonesia to benefit from a range of further humanitarian assistance measures being provided by Australia.
Indonesia continues to face serious economic and social problems arising from the Asian financial crisis and drought. Indonesia's poor - particularly women and children - have been seriously affected by the crisis and are finding it difficult to purchase nutritious food and to access health and education services.
Australia will provide further support for the successful UNICEF Complementary Food Initiative in East and West Nusa Tenggara, East Timor and South Sulawesi. Since commencing with an Australian Government grant in 1998, it has delivered nutrient-fortified food to 80,000 infants in eastern Indonesia. An independent evaluation found the scheme has prevented widespread malnutrition and saved around 1,300 lives. Approximately 110,000 infants will be helped by Australia's additional commitment of $2.9 million to the second phase of the scheme.
Assistance will also be provided to more than 15,000 poor farming communities in eastern Indonesia to help them recover from the effects of debilitating drought last year. CARE Australia and World Vision Australia will carry out agricultural relief and rehabilitation projects through the provision of seeds, fertilisers and other essential agricultural inputs. The total value of this assistance will be $1.5 million.
In Irian Jaya, the Australian Government will continue to help communities that benefitted from the joint AusAID/Australian Defence Force drought relief operation in 1998. Medicins Sans Fronteres will receive $500,000 for a health project to reduce morbidity and mortality in indigenous highland communities.
Australia is also assisting tens of thousands of people in West Kalimantan and Ambon in Maluku who have fled their homes because of ethnic conflict. The Australian Government is funding local non-government organisations to provide emergency shelter and medical assistance to these displaced people, including 33,000 people in West Kalimantan.
Media contacts:
Judi Nixon (Mrs Sullivan's office) 07 5591 1011
Matt Francis (AusAID) 02 6206 4960