Australia pledges extra aid to Gaza

Source: Xinhua | 01-27-2009 12:30

CANBERRA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith announced on Tuesday his government pledged an extra 5 million Australian dollars (3.25 million U.S. dollars) of emergency assistance to help the war-devastated people in the Gaza Strip.

Smith said 3 million Australian dollars (1.95 million U.S. dollars) will be given to United Nations agencies to replenish food and emergency stores, and the rest 2 million (1.3 million U.S. dollars) to Australian non-government organizations.

The money brings Australia's emergency assistance to Gaza this year to 10 million Australian dollars (6.5 million U.S. dollars).

More than 1,300 Palestinians were killed and about 5,300 wounded during Israel's three-week military offensive in Gaza, launched on December 27 and aimed at ending Palestinian militant rocket fire into Israel.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei