Australia has announced funding for humanitarian aid to the Middle East, as Foreign Minister Penny Wong arrived in the region for critical talks and said Australia has ‘a role to play’.
Senator Wong said Australia would provide $21.5million, which would focus on the growing refugee crisis stemming from the war between Hamas and Israel, as well as on ‘conflict-affected populations’ in occupied Palestinian territories.
The announcement came following a meeting with Jordan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ayman Safadi.
The aid package will include $4million to the Red Cross and $6million to the UN Relief and Works Agency, along with support for refugee programs in neighbouring Jordan and Lebanon.
Senator Wong said the humanitarian crisis in Gaza was dire.
Australia has announced funding for humanitarian aid to the Middle East, as Foreign Minister Penny Wong (pictured) arrived in the region for talks and said Australia has ‘a role to play’
‘We have a role to play as Australia. We’re obviously not a party to the region, but I hope we are a respected voice, and we can also continue to provide assistance from afar,’ she told reporters.
‘I hope that the international community can work towards a just and enduring peace, which Israelis live in peace and security and Palestinians are able to achieve their legitimate aspirations for statehood.’
The Foreign Minister said the talks with her Jordanian counterpart were an open and very deep discussion.
‘We discussed the importance of efforts to restart a political process which leads to a future Palestinian state,’ she said.
Senator Wong is also set to hold talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
She will also visit Israel, the occupied Palestinian Territories and the United Arab Emirates during the Middle Eastern trip.
As Israel stares down international outrage over its bombardment of Gaza and Houthi rebels threaten to expand attacks in the Red Sea, Australian ministers are under mounting pressure over their response to the conflict.
Australian Defence personnel played a part in missile attacks launched by the US and UK in response to the Iran-backed group blockading international shipping lanes in the Red Sea in support of Palestine.
The Coalition has blasted the government for its decision to reject a US request for deployment of a warship, with Labor opting to send a contingent of defence force personnel instead.
In a joint statement, Opposition Foreign spokesman Simon Birmingham and Opposition Defence spokesman Andrew Hastie said the government had taken credit for involvement in the strikes, when promised Aussie troops hadn’t yet made it over.
Acting Defence Minister Pat Conroy said the government was in the process of sending that contingent to the region and some had already left for the Middle East.
The commitment will be met by the end of this month as previously pledged, he added.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong outlined her concerns in a tweet (pictured)
A picture taken from Rafah shows smoke billowing over Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip during Israeli bombardment on January 13, 2024
Asked if Australia should be doing more as an AUKUS partner in the Red Sea, British High Commissioner to Australia Vicki Treadell said Australia had done its part by providing personnel for the operations centre in Bahrain, used for the strikes.
‘Those are decisions for the Australian government to make, balance against the other priorities and demands for security in this region,’ she told ABC radio.
Ms Treadell said the UK always welcomed support from Australia on international issues.
‘Australia is supporting our activity, not everything is about having big assets in the region,’ she said.
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