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MELBOURNE,
Nov 19 (Bernama) -- Australia will spend A$100 million over four
years to help the region combat the threat from bird flu.
The money will be split between projects with individual nations
and support for coordinating bodies like the World Health
Organization (WHO), the Australian Associated Press reported.
Prime Minister John Howard announced the funding today before
heading into retreat with leaders from the other 21 countries
attending the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) forum in
Busan, South Korea.
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"(This will)
assist countries in the Apec region to respond in different ways
to outbreaks or potential outbreaks or threats of outbreaks of
avian flu or other infectious diseases," he told reporters.
The A$100 million, which will come from a new budget allocation,
includes a A$6 million bird flu pledge announced by Foreign
Minister Alexander Downer earlier in the week.
Howard said A$20 million would go to international agencies,
such as WHO, while A$10 million would be directed at specific
Apec activities, such as A$4 million on a simulation exercise to
test the region's preparedness. |
The balance will go on bilateral assistance
to individual countries. "The thrust of the assistance is to help
improve the public health capacities of individual countries in the
region," Howard said.
"This is an area where Australia has a strong capacity. It has plenty of
expertise," he said.
Bird flu has killed nearly 70 people in Asia since 2003, including the
first confirmed death from China this week.-- BERNAMA
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