ARCHIVED MEDIA RELEASE
PA/3/2001 30 January 2001
AUSTRALIA BOOSTS HELP FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
Australia today increased its emergency assistance to victims of India's devastating earthquake, providing another $1.5 million Australian dollars (Rs 3.9 crores).
The new package of assistance, to be channelled through Australian non-government organisations (NGOs), brings the total of Australian emergency assistance to India in the wake of this disaster to $2.5 million AUD (Rs. 6.4 crores).
The extra assistance was announced today by Australian Prime Minister John Howard.
Meanwhile Australia's initial assistance package of $1 million AUD (Rs. 2.57 crores) is being channelled through UNICEF - the United Nations Children's Fund - to help provide safe drinking water, sanitation, medical supplies, shelter and trauma counselling.
Australia's High Commissioner to India, Mr Rob Laurie, said that the decision to channel assistance through UNICEF was made in view of the large number of children affected by the earthquake.
Mr Laurie said that both packages of Australian assistance were being carefully targeted to ensure maximum practical benefit to survivors of the earthquake.
In announcing on 28 January the initial Australian contribution of $1 million, Prime Minister John Howard had indicated that Australia would continue to monitor the situation in Gujarat to determine how best to give further assistance.
"The Government's decision to provide a further $1.5 million is based on these more detailed assessments of the needs of those affected by the earthquake, including as a result of consultations with Australian NGOs assisting with the relief effort," Mr Howard said today.
"The Government will continue to monitor the situation and stands ready to help further if required.
"I wrote to Prime Minister Vajpayee on 29 January to express, on behalf of all Australians, my deepest condolences for the terrible loss of life and suffering caused by the Gujarat earthquake."
For further information, please contact Mr Rory Medcalf, First Secretary on 6888223 ext. 197.