Australia gives $30m to Burma

July 23, 2008 06:20am
Article from: AAP


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.