I am pleased to announce the Australian Government is providing $2 million for Australian NGOs to deliver immediate
emergency assistance to Gaza. This funding is part of the $5 million package of assistance announced by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Stephen Smith on 27 January. The remaining $3
million is for United Nations agencies to replenish food and emergency stores.Details of the support and funding:Australian Red Cross ($300,000): In partnership with the Palestine
Red Crescent Society, the Australian Red Cross will focus on improving access to safe water for up to 50,000 families through the provision of hygiene kits, water purification supplies and the
deployment of water treatment units and jerry cans.CARE Australia ($425,000) will provide basic medical assistance, non-food items such as building materials, cooking equipment, blankets,
winter clothes and hygiene kits, and increased access to safe water supplies by deploying water trucks and repairing water pumping stations. Their activities will focus on assisting conflict affected
families in the north of Gaza.Oxfam Australia ($425,000) will distribute family emergency hygiene kits, baby hygiene kits and cleaning kits to 5,000 conflict-affected households across Gaza.
They will also improve the water and sanitation conditions in target communities, kindergartens and primary schools by repairing damaged community infrastructure and deploying 10 mobile water tanks.Save the Children Australia ($425,000) will focus their emergency response on improving the health of mothers, newborns and children in hospitals, health care centres and shelters in
the north and south of Gaza, as well as Gaza City. This will involve advising mothers on the care of their newborns, establishing community support networks and providing supplementary food and
micronutrients.World Vision Australia ($425,000) will meet the immediate food and hygiene needs of 2,150 vulnerable families that have been affected by the recent conflict in Gaza.
These families are located in both the north and south of Gaza.
BOB MCMULLAN MP
PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR FRASER
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
A Palestinian, whose house was destroyed during Israel's 22-day offensive, sits in front of tents in Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip January 29, 2009. Along the 45 km (30-mile) strip ...
