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Australia will provide $3 million for urgent humanitarian assistance in southern Africa.
We will provide $2 million through the World Food Programme (WFP) so it can continue to assist people in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia where millions still face severe hardship and do not have ready access to food.
Our assistance through the Australian Government's international aid agency, AusAID, will support WFP programs for those most in need, including children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
In the past five years Australia has helped WFP provide food assistance to 14 million people in southern Africa; provide nutritional support to two million children; vaccinate seven million people against measles; and provide agricultural support to six million people to try to improve food security and reduce reliance on food aid.
Australia will provide $500,000 through the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for programs addressing the needs of orphans and vulnerable children. The assistance will include support for a FAO program in Swaziland to provide hundreds of children with vital farming and life skills.
A further $500,000 will be provided through a joint program with the British Government to help support national and regional institutions working to improve responses to continuing food insecurity.
The people of Mozambique continue to be vulnerable to natural disasters. Through previous contributions of $10 million to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund and $5 million to the WFP's Immediate Response Account, Australia has assisted the UN to support the Government of Mozambique's speedy and efficient response to this year's floods and cyclone.
Since August 2005, Australia has provided more than $14 million for international humanitarian relief efforts in southern Africa. This has included $4 million for Zimbabwe, where there is a continuing need for humanitarian assistance as a result of the Mugabe Government's disastrous economic mismanagement.
Media contacts:
Malcolm Cole (Mr Downer's Office) 02 6277 7500
AusAID Public Affairs 0417 680 590