Australia grants humanitarian assistance

Australia: The Australian Government will contribute $5.25 million to provide life-saving and other essential humanitarian services for those affected by the terrorist activities in Sri Lanka, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said.

"We will contribute $3 million through the World Food Programme to provide emergency food aid to up to 400,000 people recently displaced and affected by the conflict, and for community-based food-for work programs for up to 390,000 people in the north and east.

We will provide $1 million through the ICRC to help protect civilians from violations of international humanitarian law, and to allow the ICRC to visit detainees and act for families of missing persons.

We will contribute $1.25 million to UNICEF for provision of child protection services for displaced people and separated families. We will support UNICEF's water and sanitation program servicing up to 30,000 displaced families," Downer said.