Mr Smith’s Office:
Courtney Hoogen 02 6277 7500 or 0488 244901
AusAID Public Affairs 0417 680 590
MEDIA RELEASE
Stephen Smith MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs
M E D I A R E L E A S E
FA009
27 January 2009
AUSTRALIA TO PROVIDE $5 MILLION ADDITIONAL
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR GAZA
Australia will provide a further $5 million for urgently needed humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
The additional assistance I am announcing today demonstrates Australia’s on going support for the
considerable efforts being made by Australian and international organisations to provide critical
humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
The additional $5 million includes up to $2 million for Australian NGOs to deliver immediate
emergency assistance in Gaza.
Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan, will meet with
Australian NGOs this week to finalise details of the proposed $2 million assistance package by
Australian NGOs.
The remaining $3 million is for United Nations agencies to replenish food and emergency stores.
This brings to $10 million the amount of emergency humanitarian assistance committed by Australia to
Gaza this year, and is in addition to the $45 million in development and humanitarian assistance
provided to the Palestinian people in 2008.
Australian assistance announced earlier this month has provided financial support to families displaced
by the violence in Gaza and delivered urgently needed food aid and medical supplies to those affected.
This earlier assistance included $2 million cash assistance through United Nations Relief and Works
Agency (UNWRA) for displaced families, $1.5 millions for emergency food through the World Food
Program (WFP), and $1.5 million to the Red Cross.
NEWS 
