MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
Australia will provide $11.5 million in emergency relief to help alleviate food shortages in Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
A total of $7 million has been allocated to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan where more than 1.5 million people have fled violent conflicts and are now living in camps.
Of this funding, $5 million will be channelled through the World Food Programme (WFP) for general emergency food distribution, school feeding programs and food for work.
A further $2 million will assist the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for an emergency feeding and nutritional surveillance program in Darfur.
This latest contribution, through the Australian Government's international aid agency, AusAID, takes Australia's emergency relief assistance to Sudan to $47.1 million since May 2004.
The severe drought in Kenya and Somalia has spread to Tanzania and forced millions of people from their homes in search of food. Australia has now allocated $1.5 million to WFP for food aid in Tanzania and a further $1 million to WFP for Kenya.
In Zimbabwe, the commercial agriculture sector has collapsed following the Government of Zimbabwe's fast tracking of land reforms which have caused food shortages and inflation. As conditions deteriorate Australia is providing $1 million to the WFP for food aid and $500,000 to the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organisation for agricultural relief activities.
A further $500,000 will be provided to Mercy Corps, an international consortium of non government organisations (NGOs), to provide food, primary health care and welfare services in both rural and urban areas. This brings Australia's support to international relief efforts for vulnerable Zimbabweans to $3 million in the current financial year.
Demands on Australia's emergency funds for Africa have reached unprecedented levels in the past 18 months, with many countries in Africa affected by years of drought and conflict. Australia will continue to monitor closely the humanitarian situation throughout Africa and respond to priority needs in coordination with other donors.
Media contacts:
Matt Anderson (Minister's office) 0408 053 141
AusAID (Public Affairs): 0417 680 590