13 August 2004
In response to a request from the Bangladesh Government, Australia is sending a further shipment of wheat to help provide food for Bangladesh's flood victims.
This latest 18,800 tonne wheat shipment, valued at $9 million, is in addition to a 45,000 tonne wheat shipment announced on August 6 2004.
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.
Australia will also provide $500,000 to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for water purification tablets and to help with the re-establishment of primary schools.
Many primary schools are being used as temporary shelters by people made homeless by the floods. In some districts up to 80 per cent of primary schools have been affected by floodwaters.
Although the floodwaters are receding, the situation in Bangladesh remains critical, with a damage bill estimated at more than $7 billion.
The World Food Programme estimates 20 million people need food aid immediately and about 5 million will need food aid for six months or longer.
At present, relief efforts are focussed on providing food, clean water and sanitation to prevent a major outbreak of diseases.
Australia is the largest food aid donor to Bangladesh and the latest wheat shipment brings Australia's contribution to the country to $27.6 million.
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