MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce that Australia will provide $14.3 million towards
the delivery of humanitarian assistance to displaced and refugee populations in
South West Asia.
This is a clear demonstration of Australia's commitment to international
agencies to support refugees, internally displaced people and other vulnerable
groups, and is one element in the whole-of-government approach to combating
illegal people movements.
There are currently some 3.5 million Afghani refugees living in Iran and
Pakistan and a further 950,000 people displaced within Afghanistan.
In the past 12 months Australia has provided humanitarian assistance totaling
$9.5 million for Afghanistan and for refugee programs in neighbouring countries.
This assistance has been provided to the United Nations High Commission for
Refugees, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the World Food
Programme, UNICEF and the International Organisation for Migration.
Australia is also providing up to $300,000 to the Afghan Forum to be hosted
by the Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United
Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva in early October. The
Forum will bring together Afghan Support Group Countries, including Australia,
and the two countries of first asylum for Afghani refugees, Pakistan and Iran.
The aim of the Forum is to mobilise support and increased funding for developing
more enduring solutions for displaced Afghanis and explore appropriate
international responses.
This additional funding will enable Australia to work closely with agencies
including UNHCR, OCHA and the International Committee of the Red Cross and
assist in forging a cooperative approach to this international humanitarian
issue.
Media contacts:
Matt Francis (Ministerial) 02 6277 7500 / 0419 206
890
Fionna Douglas (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 / 0412 804 489