TEHRAN Australia has donated 1.7 million Australian dollars (approx. U.S.$1 million) to the United Nations appeal for Afghanistan. The contribution will be made through the world food program, this was announced by Australia's Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Ruddock in Paris on 20 July, Australian Embassy in Tehran said in a press release on Tuesday.
The donation reflects Australia's commitment to alleviate the hardships of the Afghan population.
Both Iran and Pakistan have publicly stated their desire to directly allocate donations to Afghan people to avoid a mass outflow of refugees.
The donation also reflects Australia's commitments to help ease the burden on countries of first asylum, such as Iran, that hosts a large number of refugee populations.
Australia's contribution to the Afghan drought appeal comes soon after the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Downer, approved a contribution to 1.5 million Australian dollars to the UNHCR appeal for Southwest Asia on June 1. Half of the contribution is for funding UNHCR activities for refugees in Iran. The Australian government has allocated 4.5 million Australian dollars in 2000 and 2001 to help develop a long-term solution to the problems of displaced Afghans and Iraqis in the region.
The Australian foreign minister during his recent visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran had stated that "Australia has provided, through multilateral agencies, some support for Iran to help ease the enormous cost for two and a half million refugees residing in Iran, and we are happy to look at providing Iran with the continued support dealing with that problem particularly through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)." (IRNA)