MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Sullivan
I am pleased to announce that Australia will provide further humanitarian assistance to Solomon Islands for people who have been displaced as a result of ethnic tensions between people from Guadalcanal and Malaita.
This follows my recent visit to Solomon Islands for consultations with the Solomon Islands Government on ways in which Australia might provide further assistance to help authorities deal with the situation.
Several thousand people of Malaitan origin have left their homes on Guadalcanal to return to villages on Malaita and other islands.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Solomon Islands Red Cross has been providing shelter for some 2,000 internally displaced people, and facilitating passage off Guadalcanal by boat for those people wishing to leave. The Australian Government has previously provided $140,000 to assist these relief activities.
Australia will contribute an additional $200,000 to the ICRC for its relief activities in Solomon Islands.
In the next few weeks, the ICRC proposes to provide food and other assistance for up to 6,000 internally displaced people, including shelter material for up to 1,500 families, basic hygiene items, and clean and safe water supplies. The ICRC will also provide first aid and basic health assistance where necessary in isolated areas.
A recent assessment mission to Solomon Islands by the ICRC also identified other potential areas of need. Australia stands ready to consider further requests for assistance.
The assistance will be provided through the Australian Government's overseas aid agency, AusAID, as part of its emergency and humanitarian relief operations.
Media contacts:
Judi Nixon (Mrs Sullivan's office) 07 5591 1011 / 0411 287 258
Matt Francis (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 / 0417 683 126