Media Release
03 July 2020
As part of Australia’s commitment to working with Indonesia to respond to the impacts of COVID-19, Australia will provide AUD 3.6 million (IDR35 billion) to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, in cooperation with the Indonesian Red Cross, to enable them to support communities across Indonesia.
In line with Indonesia’s national response and recovery efforts, the support will restore economic opportunities, provide timely and accurate information on the risks of COVID-19 and provide essential relief supplies to ensure women, children and vulnerable communities have access to critical support.
“The unprecedented scale of this crisis requires us all to work together to protect our health and shared prosperity,” Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Gary Quinlan, said.
“Nowhere is this collective spirit clearer than in the important work Indonesian Red Cross volunteers do within their own communities to help face this challenge. I admire their dedication and energy.”
Australia has adapted its development program in Indonesia to respond directly to COVID-19, including AUD 21 million in new initiatives to provide immediate support to Indonesia’s health, humanitarian and economic response.
“COVID-19 is an unprecedented event and we have adapted our usual way of delivering humanitarian assistance,” Jan Gelfand, Head of the International Federation of Red Cross Country Cluster Support Team for Indonesia and Timor-Leste and Representative to ASEAN, said.
“The five year partnership with Australia is assisting the Indonesian Red Cross’ important work, saving lives and preventing the further spread of COVID-19, working alongside the Government of Indonesia, and will also enable the Indonesian Red Cross to adapt and strengthen their systems, better positioning them to respond to this ongoing challenge.”
Secretary General of the Indonesian Red Cross, Sudirman Said, said that his organisation’s humanitarian task cannot be done alone. Collaboration between many parties is needed so that it can simplify and speed up assistance arriving to the people who need it most in difficult times because of a pandemic or disaster.
“We appreciate our partners that have entrusted their mandate to us. We are supported by our personnel and volunteers who are ready to work tirelessly for humanitarian missions,” Sudirman said.
Australia has for many years worked together in response to natural disasters with Red Cross organisations in Indonesia.
This funding is the beginning of a new AUD 5.4 million (IDR53 billion) five-year package of support for the International Federation of Red Cross and Indonesian Red Cross to strengthen Indonesia’s disaster management system.
Media Enquiries:
International Federation of the Red Cross: Jan Gelfand +62 811 969 08324 [email protected]
Australian Embassy: [email protected]