MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Billson
Australia will provide a further $2 million for landmine clearing operations in Cambodia, the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Bruce Billson, announced today at the Cambodian Mine Action Centre.
'Our support is saving lives and will continue to help return livelihoods to people who have suffered and lost so much because of years of conflict and the remnants of war,' Mr Billson said.
'Australian Government assistance is critically important in Cambodia where around 80 per cent of the people rely on subsistence farming and many farmers and their families continue to face the daily risk of serious injury or death. The money will be managed by AusAID, the Australian Government's overseas aid agency.
'Cambodia is one of the world's most heavily mined countries and although Australia and other donors have helped Cambodia reduce land mine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) casualty rates from 3000 per year to around 800, much work remains to be done,' Mr Billson said.
'This initial $2 million contribution will be dedicated to clearance operations conducted by the Cambodian Mine Action Centre, whose work also involves marking and surveying and important mine awareness activities.
'Land mines and UXO continue to be a serious obstacle to Cambodia's development and my visit as Australia's Special Representative for Mine Action, reinforces our commitment to helping the people of Cambodia transform deadly mine fields into productive farmlands.
Australia has committed $75 million for mine action over the next five years to tackle the horrific effects of land mines and UXO, in addition to the $100 million we have spent over the past decade, including $48 million to help Cambodia', Mr Billson said.
Australia's contribution will be managed by the United Nations Development Programme's multi-donor funding facility, Clearing for Results, to be launched later this year.
Media inquiries:
Shane Fairlie (with Mr Billson in Cambodia) 0408 680 442
AusAID (Public Affairs in Cambodia) 0408 485 560
AusAID Public Affairs Canberra 0417 680 590
Please note Cambodia is three hours' behind AEST.