MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
AusAID
Senator Kay Patterson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, will today open Destroy a Minefield Week in Victoria.
As part of Destroy a Minefield week, children from Glen Orden Primary School will today take part in the 'Destroy a Minefield Hopscotch-athon' in Swanson St, Melbourne.
'The aim of the Hopscotch-athon is to demonstrate the daily risk faced by Cambodian children of stepping on landmines going to school, walking home, or playing simple childhood games like hopscotch,' Senator Patterson said.
The Destroy a Minefield campaign is an Australian Government initiative whereby the Government works together with the community to clear minefields in Cambodia.
'Cambodia is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world,' Senator Patterson said. 'To date, in Cambodia alone, over 29,000 people have been killed or maimed by landmines in what amounts to a humanitarian crisis.'
Already, through the Destroy a Minefield scheme, Australians have cleared major minefields around the village of Ta Peng, in the Siem Riep Province of Cambodia. The access road to the village has been cleared, allowing safe travel by foot or by vehicle and villagers now have safe access to their water supply.
The Government is providing $400,000 toward the initiative. $200,000 is comprised of the Government's sales tax revenue from the Elton John 'Candle in the Wind' tribute CD to the late Princess Diana. The Government will also match $1 for every $2 raised in the community.
To date the Destroy a Minefield initiative has received over $175,000 in pledges.
All donations of $2 and over are tax deductible through AUSTCARE. Donations can be made by freecall to 1800 02 11 03.
Wednesday 29 March 2000
Media contacts: Louise Ahern (Senator Patterson's office)
02 6277 3800/ 0409 034 403
Kate Ramsey (Austcare)
03 9663 1600
Clare Kiely (AusAID)
03 9221 5409 / 0414 787 531