MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce that Australia is contributing $500 000 to a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) appeal to assist the reintegration of 60 000 Cambodian refugees currently in Thailand. The funds are being provided through AusAID's humanitarian relief program.
The Australian Government and the international community are concerned at the ongoing fighting in the north west of Cambodia which has resulted in an exodus of around 60 000 Cambodians into Thailand's Surin and Trat provinces. During my recent meetings with the Cambodian parties in New York, I urged them to cease the fighting, which simply prolongs the suffering of the Cambodian people.
While the number of Cambodians in Surin province is now stable and a voluntary repatriation program is in place, in Trat, Cambodian refugees are continuing to arrive and no repatriation program has been introduced as yet.
In October UNHCR launched an appeal for US $6 million dollars.
Australian funds will be targeted towards Quick Impact Projects in the areas of health, sanitation, food and infrastructure within Cambodia. These type of projects are designed to assist the reintegration of returnees into their villages.
The projects will be implemented in partnership with the Cambodian Red Cross, the World Food Programme, other UN agencies and specialist Non Government Organisations.
Media contact:
Innes Willox (Minister's office) 02 6277 7500 / 0411 414 695
Mark Giffard (AusAID) 02 6206 4966