Emergencies, Humanitarian Aid & Landmines

Australia helps reduce the adverse impacts of conflict, natural and other disasters on vulnerable populations.

Developing countries in the Asia Pacific region are highly vulnerable to a range of natural hazards, including tropical cyclones, floods, landslides, droughts, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis.

The Australian Government stands ready to help countries in times of natural disasters. Assistance may take the form of relief supplies, medical teams, law and order personnel, transport and communication.

Australia also makes contributions to relief agencies, such as Australian Red Cross, which have extensive experience in relief operations. For example, Australia provided $60 million to Australian and international organisations for emergency relief in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, which affected parts of Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, the Maldives and East Africa.

Humanitarian Action Policy

AusAID is increasingly integrating its humanitarian action and development activities to ensure Australian responses are coordinated. The links between development and humanitarian action are clear.

The long-term effects of disasters and crises undermine growth prospects and hard-won development gains. Where capacity to deliver services is low or insecurity prevails, vulnerability to hazards and conflict increases and poverty is exacerbated.

Humanitarian action in itself cannot reduce poverty, nor can it prevent or reduce conflict. The Humanitarian Action Policy deals with the symptoms of conflict and complements the Peace, Conflict and Development Policy that specifically addresses conflict prevention, conflict management and reduction, peace-building and post-conflict recovery.

Through the measures outlined in this policy, humanitarian action can help counteract social instability, reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen local capacities.

See Humanitarian Action Policy

Disaster preparedness

To ensure effective responses to conflict and disasters, Australia works in cooperation with international and domestic partners to improve disaster preparedness and risk reduction strategies.

Food aid

Australia provides approximately 150 000 tonnes of food aid every year - about $65 million - to people in crisis in countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Chad. At least half of this tonnage comes from Australian farmers and suppliers.

Refugees

Australia's aid program provides assistance for the care, repatriation and resettlement of refugees and people displaced by disaster and conflict. Australia contributes financially to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other key humanitarian agencies and supports protecting and improving conditions for refugees, finding durable solutions to refugee crises and the reintegration of returnees, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.

Rehabilitation and reconstruction

In many cases long term relief is required after an emergency. The Australian Government therefore selectively supports rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in areas that have been struck by disaster or conflict.

Landmines

Landmines and other unexploded ordnance are serious obstacles to sustainable development in many of the world's poorest countries. Mines compound refugee problems, lay waste to large tracts of potentially productive land and interfere with transportation and communication. Australia is a leading contributor to international mine clearance, mine awareness and victim assistance programs.