MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce that Australia will provide $280 000 to the
Australian Red Cross Society to assist Indonesia to overcome the effects of the
continuing smoke and haze blanketing the archipelago.
The funding, to be provided by AusAID, follows an appeal by the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The project will advise
communities of the potential health problems and how to deal with resultant
illness. Reported health effects include a large increase in the number of
Indonesians suffering respiratory ailments, conjunctivitis and skin reactions.
The Indonesian Red Cross will run a community-based education campaign
targeting the most vulnerable such as children, the elderly and those with
pre-existing upper respiratory tract diseases.
The network of Red Cross volunteers in Sumatra and Kalimantan will be trained
to explain the effects of inhaling smoke and haze. Volunteers will advise
communities on how to protect themselves from smoke and haze and how to care for
sick family members. The importance of ensuring access to potable water and
sanitation will also be stressed.
The volunteers will also continuously monitor food supplies and changing
health issues. This project expects to provide health information to at least
two million Indonesians.
The Australian Government is very concerned about the long-term health and
environmental impact of the forest fires. We are also closely monitoring the
impact of the current El Nino phenomenon throughout the region. While there has
been recent isolated showers and storms over some parts of Indonesia, smoke haze
persists over large areas. The onset of monsoon rains is not expected for at
least several weeks.
Media contacts:
Innes Willox, (Minister's Office) (02) 6277 7500 / 0411 414 695
Michelle Hardy, (AusAID) (02) 6206 4968