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The Australian government will give AUD4 million (USD4.21 million) for victims of wartime land ordinance in Vietnam and Laos.
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| Kevin Rudd at Ho Chi Minh City Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Centre |
Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd announced the four-year aid package on April 13 during his visit to Ho Chi Minh City Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Centre.
Rudd said that the funding will be handed over to beneficiaries via the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The promised funding will bring Australia’s total aid to Vietnam and countries afflicted by the war, via ICRC, to over AUD5 million (around USD5.27 million) since 2006, according to Rudd.
He noted that such assistance has helped provide rehabilitation services and improve living standards to a combined 17,000 people during the period.
“Vietnam is among countries that are the most affected by wartime weapons in the Southeast Asian region, currently having around 100,000 afflicted people. Over 20% of the land area in the country is estimated to still contain 800,000 wartime leftovers, which may continue to harm local citizens,” he added.
