MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Gallus
Australia has begun providing food aid to more than 8,000 people in the
conflict-affected communities of the Solomon Islands, the Parliamentary
Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Chris Gallus, announced today.
'The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), through
Australia's aid program, is shipping 100 tonnes of basic food to 88 small
villages on the Weathercoast,' Mrs Gallus said.
'The MV Baruku is delivering supplies including rice, flour, sugar and
salt to areas between Marasa and Sauri in south Guadalcanal.'
'Vegetable seeds are also being provided to help people replant their food
gardens,' Mrs Gallus said.
'RAMSI's efforts to restore law and order are enabling the people of the
Weathercoast to return to a normal life, and will assist the eventual
repatriation of internally displaced people from the Weathercoast to their home
communities.'
'The food delivery follows a recent humanitarian needs assessment conducted
by AusAID's Community Peace and Restoration Fund, the Solomon Islands National
Peace Council, and the Solomon Islands National Disaster Management Office
(NDMO).'
'Australia will continue to work in close partnership with the NDMO and the
Government of Solomon Islands to help plan for the longer-term recovery of
conflict-affected areas on the Weathercoast', Mrs Gallus said.
Distribution of the food aid is expected to take up to a week.
Contact:
Shane Fairlie (Office of Mrs Gallus) 02 6277 4840 or 0408 680 442
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489
Dominic Morice (RAMSI, Honiara) (0011) 677 72160