MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce that four ambulances, generously donated by the South Australian Ambulance Service, are being sent to the Maldives to help the country continue its recovery from the devastating impact of the Indian Ocean disaster.
The ambulances have been gratefully accepted by the Ministry of Health in the Maldives and will be used to improve health services in the country and train paramedics as ambulance officers.
The ambulances will be stationed on three of the largest and most populated islands - Male, Hulhumale and Seenu islands- and will be used to quickly transport injured people to hospital, or an airport so they can more quickly receive medical treatment.
The four ambulances will be transported by road from the Fulham Ambulance Station in Adelaide to Melbourne where they will be sea-freighted to the Maldives. The ambulances are expected to arrive on 4 August.
The Maldives, made up of 1,190 islands with an average height above sea level of 1.5 metres were hit hard by the Asian tsunami. The low lying islands were completely covered by waves, killing 82 people, displacing more than 21,000 people and rendering 13 islands uninhabitable.
Australia responded quickly and generously to the disaster, immediately dispatching a 17 member medical team to provide emergency health assistance in the country.
In addition Australia has also provided 15 volunteer teachers to ensure children returned to school as quickly as possible after the tragedy, and a coral reef assessment team and an engineering team were sent to the Maldives in January this year.
To date, the Australian Government has provided almost $3.2 million in immediate assistance to the Maldives. Currently AusAID is mobilising further assistance packages for the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase that aims to bring together the numerous offers of assistance received for a collaborative response by government departments, private agencies and individuals.
Media inquiries:
Chris Kenny (Mr Downer's office) 0419 206 890
AusAID (Public Affairs) 0417 680 590