Australia Announces Additional Humanitarian Relief for Internally Displaced Persons.

ISLAMABAD, July 01, 2009 (Frontier Star) -- The Australian Foreign Minister Mr Stephen Smith, announced an additional A$5 million dollars on Wednesday to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of civilians fleeing the conflict in north-west Pakistan. This brings Australias total contribution since September 2008 to humanitarian relief in north-west Pakistan to A$23 million, according to a press statement issued by the Australian High Commission. Australias assistance is in response to urgent calls by the Government of Pakistan and the United Nations. Todays contribution of A$5 million will provide essential food through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and support the deployment of Australian logistics experts to support United Nations programs such as the WFP and UNICEF. It will enable the WFP to transport local stockpiles of wheat flour to those in need and will feed around one million displaced people over the next six months. Australias assistance has helped alleviate the suffering of the adversely affected displaced people through the provision of essential health services, food, safe drinking water and sanitation facilities. Australia stands side by side with the Pakistani Government in its efforts to combat militancy and extremism and is committed to helping Pakistan become a safer and more prosperous country, free from intimidation and fear.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)