MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Hunt
Australia will commit $1.5 million over three years to support the physical rehabilitation of landmine survivors in Vietnam.
The additional financial assistance was announced today by Australia's Special Representative on Mine Action and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Greg Hunt.
'This funding, through Australia's international aid agency, AusAID, will support the ongoing work of the International Committee for the Red Cross' Special Fund for the Disabled program in Vietnam,' Mr Hunt said.
'To date, the Fund has been hugely successful in helping the rehabilitation of landmine survivors in Vietnam.
'Without this support, many of these survivors may otherwise have been left destitute.
'Since 1995 the Fund has assisted more than 15,000 amputees in Vietnam, or almost one-fifth of amputees in the country.
'In 2006 alone, about 3,000 newly identified amputees were fitted with new prostheses and were supported through rehabilitation offered by the Fund.
'That represents support for about 80 per cent of the newly identified amputees,' he said.
The Fund also works with the Government of Vietnam providing training to enable the production of high quality prosthetics and orthotics, in line with international standards.
'Landmines and unexploded ordnance continue to pose a serious threat to development in Vietnam, particularly in rural areas, where they are most prevalent,' Mr Hunt said.
'The poor are particularly vulnerable as they are more likely to be handling mines and unexploded ordnance as a source of scrap metal from which to earn a living.
'This funding forms part of the Australian Government's broader $75 million commitment for Mine Action globally from 2005-2010,' Mr Hunt said.
Media contacts:
John Deller (Mr Hunt's Office) 0400 496 596
AusAID Public Affairs 0417 680 590