MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
The Australian Government will provide immediate assistance to relief agencies dealing with the humanitarian crisis in Kosovo.
Reports from all sources confirm a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the region. Tens of thousands of people are heading towards and crossing into the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro.
Around 500,000 ethnic Albanians a quarter of Kosovo's population have fled their homes, including some 100,000 in the last few days.
Albanian neighbourhoods have been targeted and destroyed, and there are reports of massacres of Kosovar Albanians and of men being led away from their families. There are also reports that Serb paramilitary units have been pillaging and burning Albanian shops in the provincial capital Pristina. I am sure all Australians are as appalled as I am by these events.
Extreme conditions confront those fleeing their homes in Kosovo, and the flows of refugees to Macedonia and Albania.
Australia will provide $2 million to humanitarian organisations working in the region, including the United Nations High Commission for Refugees ($1 million), CARE Australia ($500,000), the Australian Red Cross ($250,000), and World Vision Australia ($250,000).
This assistance will be targeted at meeting the immediate relief needs of refugees and internally displaced persons fleeing attacks upon them and their communities.
It will be provided through the emergency relief budget managed by the Australian Government's overseas aid agency, AusAID.
Media contacts:
Innes Willox (Minister's Office) 02 6277 7500 or 0419 206 890
Matt Francis (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0417 683 126