MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
Australia is supporting peace-building and post-conflict rehabilitation efforts in Sri Lanka by providing an additional $10 million to help refugees and displaced people in Sri Lanka.
For more than 20 years, civil war ravaged Sri Lanka, claiming over 64,000 lives and leaving up to 1 million people displaced.
Following the signing of an indefinite cease-fire agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on 22 February 2002, more than 200,000 people returned home.
The humanitarian funding announced today will help returnees re-integrate into Sri Lankan communities and is being channelled through international organisations, including the United Nations
The International Organisation for Migration will receive $3 million to assist with the return and resettlement of Sri Lankan refugees from India. This includes providing carpentry, masonry and tailoring kits to establish livelihoods and credit and training for micro-businesses to generate rural employment.
The United Nations Development Program will receive $1 million to help fund activities under its Transitional Program for Conflict Affected Areas. Australia's contribution will support the economic livelihoods of fishing communities in three districts through improved access to micro-credit and infrastructure development.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) will receive $6 million for a range of projects that promote the rights of children, encourage conflict prevention and resolution and provide education about the dangers of landmines and unexploded ordnance.
The funding provided to UNICEF will also assist with the rehabilitation of schools in conflict-affected areas of the north and north-east, and provide children with school kits and catch-up classes for students who have missed out on education because of the fighting. Other UNICEF activities funded by Australia include back to school campaigns to encourage children to attend school and support for maternal and child health programs.
Today's announcement reflects Australia's commitment to helping the world's most vulnerable people, including those affected by disaster and conflict and brings total development assistance to Sri Lanka in 2003-04 to $24 million.
Media inquiries:
Chris Kenny (Mr Downer's Office) 02 6277 7500 or 0419 206 890
Jo Elsom ( AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489