Wednesday, 15 April 2020
Australia
to provide AUD 4.5 million to support Nauru's COVID-19
response
and
economic recovery
Responding to the COVID-19
pandemic represents a major common challenge for the governments of
Australia, Nauru and the region. The Australian Government is
committed to working with the Government of Nauru to address the
health and economic impacts of this pandemic.
Australia has moved quickly to reorient development partnerships
in the Pacific to bring forward funding for critical health
services, and to help Pacific partners mitigate the economic impact
of the pandemic.
As part of this effort, Australia will provide AUD 4.5 million to
assist the Government of Nauru manage the emerging health, economic
and social impacts of COVID-19. We are working to deploy this
support quickly to meet Nauru's most immediate needs.
In a joint statement on 1 April, Australia's Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Marise Payne, and Minister for International Development
and the Pacific, Alex Hawke, said "As the world's economies, large
and small, grapple with a pandemic that does not recognise national
borders, co-operation will be critical… We have never faced a
challenge of the scale of COVID-19, but we will combat it together
as a Pacific family."
The welfare of Pacific workers and students in Australia is a
priority for the Australian Government, as countries close their
borders to try to keep infection rates as low as
possible. Changes in visa arrangements will allow
Pacific workers who are unable to return home to stay and work in
Australia for up to another 12 months, and students who have
completed their studies, but are unable to return home, to extend
their visas.
Australia is also working to maintain an essential services and
humanitarian corridor to the Pacific to enable the movement of
essential personnel and supplies, including medical equipment and
food.
Australia is committed to
ensuring that Pacific Islanders can return home and is facilitating
transit through Australia en route to Pacific destinations.
Australia is also undertaking screening measures at Australian
airports for outbound flights to the Pacific, which will reduce the
risk of exposure to COVID-19 for Pacific island
countries.
There has never been a more
important time for Australia to stand with our Pacific family as we
face the COVID-19 pandemic together.
ENDS////
Issued
by:
Australian High
Commission, Nauru