Australian aid agencies welcome $4m Federal grant for Nepal

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Australia’s international aid agencies have welcomed the Federal Government’s swift commitment of $4 million in emergency relief funds for their operations in Nepal following the 7.8-magnitude earthquake which hit on 25 April.

 The $4 million will support six Australian aid agencies who have entered into the Humanitarian Partnership Agreement with DFAT and have well-established operations in Nepal and can rapidly scale-up their emergency response activities. The Australian agencies are: World Vision CARE, Caritas, Oxfam, Plan International Australia and Save the Children.

 The Federal Government’s rapid commitment of funding just days after the earthquake has allowed the agencies to move forward with greater certainty about how to finance their relief operations in Nepal.

 “We are on the ground and already operating so this means we can now keep going, knowing we have some funding certainty,” the agencies who mostly rely on donations from the general public in addition to grants, to fund their operations, said in a joint statement.

 The funds will be used by the agencies for distribution of emergency shelter, blankets, sleeping mats, hygiene kits and kitchen sets given that thousands of people have lost their homes and many of their possessions.

 The agencies will also be implementing water and sanitation relief work to mitigate the risks of infection and disease outbreaks.  In light of critical child protection needs, agencies will set up safe spaces for children to play, learn and receive other forms of support.

 

Media enquiries, please contact:

World Vision: Mary Louise O’CallaghanMaryLouise.OCallaghan@worldvision.com.au 0427 413 816

CARE: Tom Perry tom.perry@care.org.au on 0419 567 777

Caritas: Nicole Clements on media@caritas.org.au on 0408 869 833

Oxfam: Laurelle Keough at laurellek@oxfam.org.au or call +61 425701801

Plan International: Adam Cathro, Adam -Adam.Cathro@plan.org.au or 0488202945

Save the Children: Olivia ZinzanOlivia.zinzan@savethechildren.org.au or 0416 355 851

 

Media Releases, Nepal earthquake, Middle East, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, Australian Government, CARE, Caritas, Disaster relief, Foreign Aid, Nepal earthquake, Oxfam, PLAN, Save the Children

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