Latest news with #AustralianCouncilforInternationalDevelopment
7NEWS
2 days ago
- Politics
- 7NEWS
Australia pledges to protect aid workers amid records deaths
Australia has pledged tangible action to protect humanitarian aid workers as those who dedicate themselves to helping people in war are killed in record numbers. More than 380 humanitarian workers were killed in conflict zones in 2024, marking the deadliest year on record and a 31 per cent jump from the previous year, according to Aid Worker Security Database statistics released on Tuesday. But there are dire warnings this could be surpassed in 2025 with more than 200 people killed. For Matthew Maury, this was more than just a tally as he reflected on the death of a former colleague during a wreath-laying ceremony in Canberra on World Humanitarian Day. The Australian Council for International Development CEO reflected on his former colleague John Amahoro, who was killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo when their convoy was ambushed by rebels. 'Without the efforts and sacrifices of humanitarian workers like John, the lives of civilians in conflicts and disaster zones would be far more precarious and life-threatening,' Maury said at the Australian Overseas Aid Volunteer Memorial. Foreign Minister Penny Wong is spearheading a pledge to protect humanitarian personnel after convening a ministerial group with several other nations at a United Nations conference in September 2024. It will be launched on the margins of the United Nations meeting in New York during the final week of September, International Development Minister Anne Aly confirmed. 'The declaration will be an important demonstration of our collective commitment to upholding international humanitarian law,' she said. 'It will also include practical steps that will increase aid worker safety.' The text hasn't been released, but a spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Department told AAP it called for 'political commitment at the highest possible level to protect aid workers and enable safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian assistance to civilians in conflict zones'. Gaza remains the deadliest place on earth for humanitarian workers and journalists, with at least 520 aid workers killed since the start of the conflict, according to data from the United Nations. The highest numbers of deaths in 2024 were recorded in Gaza at 181, followed by 60 in Sudan. Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six other World Central Kitchen workers were killed by an Israeli air strike in Gaza in April 2024, which its defence force blamed on a mistake.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Australia pledges aid worker protection as deaths surge
Australia has pledged tangible action to protect humanitarian aid workers as those who dedicate themselves to helping people in war are killed in record numbers. More than 380 humanitarian workers were killed in conflict zones in 2024, marking the deadliest year on record and a 31 per cent jump from the previous year, according to Aid Worker Security Database statistics released on Tuesday. But there are dire warnings this could be surpassed in 2025 with more than 200 people killed. For Matthew Maury, this was more than just a tally as he reflected on the death of a former colleague during a wreath-laying ceremony in Canberra on World Humanitarian Day. The Australian Council for International Development CEO reflected on his former colleague John Amahoro, who was killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo when their convoy was ambushed by rebels. "Without the efforts and sacrifices of humanitarian workers like John, the lives of civilians in conflicts and disaster zones would be far more precarious and life-threatening," Mr Maury said at the Australian Overseas Aid Volunteer Memorial. Foreign Minister Penny Wong is spearheading a pledge to protect humanitarian personnel after convening a ministerial group with several other nations at a United Nations conference in September 2024. It will be launched on the margins of the United Nations meeting in New York during the final week of September, International Development Minister Anne Aly confirmed. "The declaration will be an important demonstration of our collective commitment to upholding international humanitarian law," she said. "It will also include practical steps that will increase aid worker safety." The text hasn't been released but a spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Department told AAP it called for "political commitment at the highest possible level to protect aid workers and enable safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian assistance to civilians in conflict zones". Gaza remains the deadliest place on earth for humanitarian workers and journalists, with at least 520 aid workers killed since the start of the conflict, according to data from the United Nations. The highest numbers of deaths in 2024 were recorded in Gaza at 181, followed by 60 in Sudan. Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six other World Central Kitchen workers were killed by an Israeli air strike in Gaza in April 2024, which its defence force blamed on a mistake.
West Australian
01-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Miserly Australia tumbles down global generosity table
The development sector has been dismayed by the coalition's pledge to cut foreign aid, which would see Australia tumble further down the ranks of global generosity. On Thursday, the coalition announced it would axe $813 million in planned development assistance over the next four years. The Pacific will be ring-fenced from any cuts. The aid downgrade was widely expected in the sector, given Peter Dutton had been non-committal on questions about possible savings during the election campaign. At a time of geopolitical tumult, Australian Council for International Development chief executive Matthew Maury said any cuts to aid would make Australia "a less reliable global partner". "At a time when the world is facing huge global challenges, we urge the coalition to consider the bipartisan commitment to aid that has cemented Australia's standing in our region over decades," he said. Earlier this week, the coalition offered increased spending to the Pacific in one key area: infrastructure. Should Mr Dutton's party form government after Saturday's election, the coalition would lift infrastructure funding - through grants and loans - by $2 billion. ACFID questioned the priority on infrastructure, saying "most Pacific states cannot afford expensive loans". "The net result of the coalition's election announcements will impact millions of the world's most vulnerable facing rising hunger, conflict, disease and climate disasters," Mr Maury said. The coalition made savage cuts to foreign aid the last time it won government from Labor, under Tony Abbott. Since taking office in 2022, Anthony Albanese's Labor government has increased foreign aid each year, but at a slower rate than Australian prosperity has grown. As a share of gross national income (GNI), Australia spends 0.19 per cent on aid - ranking it 28th of 32 developed nations. On that measure, just four nations spend less: Czech Republic, Greece, Slovakia and Hungary. A decade earlier, Australia spent 0.31 per cent of GNI, and was ranked 13th. Mr Maury said both major parties had an obligation to lift spending to support some of the world's poorest nations, calling on aid to all candidates to make aid at least one per cent of the budget, up from 0.68 per cent. "The aid budget is already at a historic low," he said. "With the challenges facing Australia and the whole world now is the worst time to be pulling back and making further cuts."
Perth Now
01-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Miserly Australia tumbles down global generosity table
The development sector has been dismayed by the coalition's pledge to cut foreign aid, which would see Australia tumble further down the ranks of global generosity. On Thursday, the coalition announced it would axe $813 million in planned development assistance over the next four years. The Pacific will be ring-fenced from any cuts. The aid downgrade was widely expected in the sector, given Peter Dutton had been non-committal on questions about possible savings during the election campaign. At a time of geopolitical tumult, Australian Council for International Development chief executive Matthew Maury said any cuts to aid would make Australia "a less reliable global partner". "At a time when the world is facing huge global challenges, we urge the coalition to consider the bipartisan commitment to aid that has cemented Australia's standing in our region over decades," he said. Earlier this week, the coalition offered increased spending to the Pacific in one key area: infrastructure. Should Mr Dutton's party form government after Saturday's election, the coalition would lift infrastructure funding - through grants and loans - by $2 billion. ACFID questioned the priority on infrastructure, saying "most Pacific states cannot afford expensive loans". "The net result of the coalition's election announcements will impact millions of the world's most vulnerable facing rising hunger, conflict, disease and climate disasters," Mr Maury said. The coalition made savage cuts to foreign aid the last time it won government from Labor, under Tony Abbott. Since taking office in 2022, Anthony Albanese's Labor government has increased foreign aid each year, but at a slower rate than Australian prosperity has grown. As a share of gross national income (GNI), Australia spends 0.19 per cent on aid - ranking it 28th of 32 developed nations. On that measure, just four nations spend less: Czech Republic, Greece, Slovakia and Hungary. A decade earlier, Australia spent 0.31 per cent of GNI, and was ranked 13th. Mr Maury said both major parties had an obligation to lift spending to support some of the world's poorest nations, calling on aid to all candidates to make aid at least one per cent of the budget, up from 0.68 per cent. "The aid budget is already at a historic low," he said. "With the challenges facing Australia and the whole world now is the worst time to be pulling back and making further cuts."
