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MEDIA RELEASE
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
ALEXANDER DOWNER
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FA1
January 1998
AUSTRALIA PROVIDES REFUGEE RELIEF ON THE THAILAND-BURMA BORDER
I am pleased to announce that the Australian Government is contributing a
further $ 1 million in humanitarian relief to Burmese refugees residing
in camps on the Thailand-Burma border. The funds are being provided
through AusAID's humanitarian relief program.
The Australian Government is conscious of the burdens placed on Thailand
by this refugee presence, and we are prepared to do what we can to help
share the burden of refugee relief. Australia encourages Thailand to
continue to provide sanctuary to civilian refugees from Burma so long as
it is unsafe for them to return to Burma. We also encourage Burma's
Government - the State Peace and Development Council - to take steps to
improve the observance of human rights inside Burma, which is the
underlying cause of the problem.
The aid is for over 115,000 refugees composed of largely the Karen ethnic
minority but also the Mon and Karenni peoples. Australian funds will
provide food, mosquito nets, firewood, blankets and basic health care.
The assistance is designed to promote self-sufficiency and assist the
refugees in establishing their own health system. The relief programs
will be implemented in partnership with Australian NGOs.
$650,000 is going to the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA)
as part of their work with the Burmese Border Consortium (BBC) which
currently provide all the food and relief assistance to the refugees. A
further $350,000 has been allocated to Community Aid Abroad (Oxfam in
Australia) to provide medical assistance to reduce the spread of
communicable diseases and improve sanitation. These activities include
malaria control, immunisation, and the development of adequate sanitation
facilities to reduce the prevalence of disease in the camps.
For more information:
Innes Willox (Ministerial) 02 6277-7500 or 0411 414-695
Kirk Coningham (Departmental) 02 6261-1555 or 0418 623-327
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Local Date: Sunday, 18-Jan-98 16:42:35 EDT
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[January 1998]
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