MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Billson
Australia is providing additional food aid to the victims of the Bangladesh floods following a request from the Government of Bangladesh.
In addition to bringing forward our annual shipment of 45,000 tonnes of wheat, Australia will now expedite the delivery of a further 18,800 tonnes of wheat, valued at $9 million.
Australia, through the World Food Programme (WFP), is the largest donor of food aid to Bangladesh.
Australian food aid will be directed to the most vulnerable communities that have lost crops, food gardens and household food stocks as a result of the floods.
We are also providing $500,000 to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for the provision of water purification tablets and to assist with the re-establishment of primary schools in flood affected areas.
Many primary schools are currently being used as temporary shelters by people made homeless by the floods and the Government of Bangladesh has advised that in some districts up to 80 per cent of primary schools have been affected by floodwaters.
Although floodwaters are now receding, the situation in Bangladesh remains critical with relief efforts focussed on providing food, clean water and sanitation to prevent a major outbreak of disease.
Up to 6 million Bangladeshis have been affected by the disaster, outbreaks of diarrhoea are escalating and large numbers of people are at risk from waterborne diseases and skin infections.
This latest humanitarian assistance to Bangladesh brings Australia's contribution to $27.6 million.
Media inquiries:
Shane Fairlie (Mr Billson's office) 02 6277 4879 or 0408 680 442
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489