Australia to Help out Neighbours

The Gillard Government recently announced it will invest $435.6 million over four years to strengthen developing countries’ preparedness for natural disasters, enhance Australia’s ability to respond to disasters in our region and internationally. Australia’s location in the Asia‑Pacific, the most disaster prone region in the world could not afford bad humanitarian decisions. New Humanitarian Action Policy was launched in December last year, which prides itself of having a unique perspective in preparedness.

It says The Australian Defence Force has unique logistics capability which the Australian Government can draw on for major regional crises to meet critical humanitarian needs are most needed. Australia maintains a standing agreement with a logistics company to provide logistics, procurement, shipping and personnel services, also appropriate and cost‑effective relief supplies, such as generators, tarpaulins, family tents and water containers.

“There are rising demands for accountability of international humanitarian action. It needs to respond better to sudden‑onset and slow‑onset disasters. They require coordinated, sustained long‑term responses,” the action policy explains one of its main goals.

Tagged Julia Gillard