Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Australia boosts Burma funding by $30m

National Nine Wed Jul 23 2008


Australia has boosted its funding to Cyclone Nargis-ravaged Burma by $30 million, the government has announced.

The increase brings Australia's total contribution to $55 million, making it one of the largest individual donors, a statement from the office of Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith said.

The United Nations says Nargis left 138,000 people dead or missing and another 2.4 million vulnerable to disease, hunger and lack of shelter and medical treatment.

Assistance has so far only reached 1.3 million in the worst affected areas.

The boost in funding will go towards getting food, clean drinking water, health, sanitation, education services and shelter to those in greatest need - particularly women and children and those displaced by the disaster.

It will also offer support to early agricultural recovery activities after the loss of crops, livestock and fisheries.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says that more than $US5.8 million ($A5.94 million) in emergency aid for victims of Burma's cyclone Nargis is still to be released by donor countries.

WHO has reviewed emergency aid following May's devastating storm and now puts the amount needed at more than $US12.8 million.

In total, aid to Nargis victims and reconstruction will cost a billion dollars, WHO and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said on Monday.

It is estimated that a little over a billion dollars is needed over the next three years with priorities including food, agriculture, and housing as well as assistance to restore livelihoods, they said in a statement.

Burma's ruling generals attracted worldwide condemnation after the cyclone for blocking entry to many foreign aid workers and relief shipments, relenting only after a personal visit by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Source

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