Tsunami Disaster - Comments from Meeting with Aid Agencies

4 January 2005

The following is a summary of comments made to the media
by the Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery
after a briefing by 10 non-government aid agencies and AUSAid
on tsunami relief efforts and future plans.

Agencies attending: Care Australia, World Vision, Oxfam, Red Cross, Caritas, UNICEF, Muslim Aid Australia, Australian Council for International Development, RedR (volunteer engineers and logistics advisers) National Council of Churches.

Can I say how the hearts of Marlena and me are going out to all those who have lost family and friends in the recent tsunami tragedy and in particular to Australians who have lost their next of kin and family. And I think we should also remember that 150 thousand lives that have been lost on current estimates in regional countries.

It really is a catastrophe of global proportions and we’d like to express our deep sympathy to Australian families and also those in the region who are suffering similar distress.

It’s a terrible time for those waiting to hear the news as to what has happened to missing relations. This will take some time and perhaps in some areas identification may never take place. But you can rest assured, that the very skilled authorities are doing their level best to process that identification system although it may take many months.

I want to particularly congratulate the aid agencies that are taking part in the relief effort. They and the Defence Force have been magnificent in the swift response, the generosity of what they’re doing and also very importantly, the competence they are showing. I believe in the various countries in which they are working, our Australian aid agencies are right up there in their skills, dedication and really focusing on the problems at hand.

It’s interesting to note that some 75 thousand calls have been made so far to the consular hot-line in Australia regarding the whereabouts of more than 10 thousand people and that more than doubles the number of calls made after the Bali tragedy, so it gives some idea of the scope of the tragedy.

I also want to thank the Australian people for the phenomenally generous response, the likes of which we’ve never seen before. From this morning’s estimates, something like $83 million has been raised from the community. And what I want to say to the community is that you can be so very, very proud of what you’ve done. It has been a most magnificent gesture, a most generous response, but what we have to do is to keep it going. And I’m asking, I guess, for a sustained response from the Australian community. Donations have come from all walks of life – from corporations to kiddies piggy banks in what I believe is an unprecedented show of public generosity so, well done to all Australians.

Today we brought the major aid agencies together for a brief on the current situation, in respect of what they’re doing. It’s been a very good and very informative briefing session and what I have committed myself to do with my wife is to continue to offer them our full support for the long term, not just for this immediate period although it is important, but to offer full support for as long as it takes. And I have been reassured by the aid agencies that they are there for the long term as well.

The immediate priority is for the effective and rapid distribution of aid and I think that’s been happening under very difficult circumstances to the best effect possible. I’d like to emphasise to the Australian community that the preferred method of supporting our agencies is by donating money that can then be changed into the appropriate needs at the appropriate locations. That is important.

Also very important is the longer-term challenge in rebuilding lives and communities and restoring essential infrastructure. One thing that came out of the meeting was the fact that many of those who have died are women and children - the people who ran the schools and tended the rice paddies and farms. It poses a particularly difficult and different situation than in other disasters.

Australia’s long-term commitment to the nations involved is an important element in continuing to build Australia’s future relationship with the region. And what Australia has been doing, and the speed of our response, has set a tremendous example for the rest of the world and I’m sure has been deeply appreciated by the governments concerned. In that context I’ve written personally as you know, to the Heads of State of the countries concerned to express the condolences of the Australian people, and equally as importantly, to assure them of the Australian Government’s and the Australian peoples’ commitment to supporting those countries in the long term in their days, weeks and probably years of need.