NAOMI LEVIN

THE United Nations, plus five charity organisations, will be responsible for distributing $5 million in aid provided by the Australia Government for the people of Gaza. Bob McMullan, the parliamentary secretary for international development assistance, announced on Friday how the latest round of aid money would be allocated.

World Vision Australia, Save the Children Australia, Oxfam Australia and CARE Australia will each receive $425,000, while the Australian Red Cross will get $300,000.World Vision is expected to use the money to fulfill the food and hygiene needs of 2150 families affected by the recent war. Oxfam will distribute emergency hygiene, baby and cleaning kits for 5000 families and deploy 10 mobile water tanks. CARE will provide non-food items such as building materials, cooking equipment, blankets and winter clothes for families in Gaza’s north, while Save the Children will use the funds to support mothers and newborn babies.

The remaining $3 million in aid will go to the United Nations to fund the replenishment of food and emergency stores. The announcement follows closely a plea by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to raise $930 million internationally for the people of Gaza. According to a World Food Programme official, the UN is currently responsible for feeding one million of Gaza’s 1.4 million residents.

Throughout the war in Gaza, the Australian Government called for a ceasefire, condemned Hamas and emphasised the need for a two-state solution. It also continued to provide money for humanitarian aid for Gaza residents.