MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce Australia will provide $1 million in emergency
assistance to Afghanistan following the devastating earthquakes near Nahrin,
north of Kabul.
The International Committee of the Red Cross will receive $500,000 to assist
with emergency shelter and medical needs. The World Food Program will receive
$500,000 to provide food aid.
The funding is in addition to the $40.3 million previously allocated to
Afghanistan for recovery and reconstruction.
The extent of the damage from the earthquake which hit the Nahrin district is
severe with early UN reports suggesting about two thousand deaths and thousands
more injured. It is estimated that up to 30,000 people have been left without
shelter.
International aid agencies and the Afghanistan Interim Authority have
identified food, shelter, non-food items, particularly blankets and jerry cans
as priorities. These commodities should be available from within the country and
the region. A medical field clinic has been set up at the disaster site and
mobile clinics will be deployed in the coming hours.
Food supplies from the World Food Program have already been sent to the
affected area and more convoys are on their way. Aid agencies have begun a first
distribution of non-food items including blankets and clothing from Mazar-e
Sharif.
Australia extends its sympathy to the people of Afghanistan and recognises
the setback the earthquake will have on reconstruction in the country. The
Australian Government through its overseas aid agency, AusAID, will continue to
monitor events in the area as the extent of the damage becomes clearer.
Contacts:
Matt Francis (Ministerial) 02 6277 7500 / 0419 206 890
Geoff Adlide (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 / 0412 804 489