Media Release
BOB McMULLAN MP
PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR FRASER
AA 08 32
14 April 2008
Australia showcases rehabilitation support for landmine survivors in Cambodia
The Hon Bob McMullan MP, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development
Assistance, will today open Survivors, a photographic exhibition detailing the impact of
landmines on survivors in Cambodia.
The exhibition marks the Australian launch of the Landmine Survivor Assistance
Program, funded by the Australian Government through AusAID and managed by the
Australian Red Cross.
Aid from Australia and other countries has helped Cambodia to reduce landmine and
unexploded ordnance casualty rates by more than half, from around 900 a year in 2005 to
347 in 2007.
Despite progress, Cambodia still remains one of the world’s most heavily mined
countries with an estimated four to six million landmines scattered across mainly rural
land. Landmines and unexploded ordnance still pose a significant obstacle to that
country’s reconstruction and development
The Landmine Survivor Assistance Program aims to reduce suffering and the threat and
socio-economic impact of landmines and other explosive remnants of war. Australia will
provide $2.5 million between 2007 and 2009 to support the program.
In the first six months of the program Australia provided funding to non-government
organisations that supplied over 2,800 prosthetics and orthotics, assisted over 6,500
people to access physical rehabilitation, and provided small grants and micro-credit to
over 172 families.
The Program supports the survivor assistance and mine risk education activities of the
Cambodian Red Cross’s Mine Victim Information Service and Mine Risk
Education/Reduction projects. It also supports the Cambodian Ministry of Social Affairs,
Veterans and Youth in developing a National Plan of Action for Victim Assistance.
As a signatory to the highly successful Mine Ban Convention agreed in 1997, Australia
has taken a lead role in assisting the Royal Government of Cambodia to promote an
integrated, comprehensive approach to survivor assistance.
Australia is expected to spend around $25 million in support of mine activities in
2007-08.
Media contacts:
Sabina Curatolo (Mr McMullan's Office) 0400 318 205
AusAID Public Affairs 0417 680 590
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