Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer announced Sunday that Australia will provide 3 million Australian dollars (2.5 million U.S. dollars) for urgent humanitarian assistance in southern Africa.

Two million dollars (1.67 million U.S. dollars) will be provided through the World Food Program (WFP) so it can continue to assist people in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia where millions still face severe hardship and do not have ready access to food.

"Our assistance through the Australian government's international aid agency, AusAID, will support WFP programs for those most in need, including children orphaned by HIV/AIDS," Downer said in a statement.

Australia will provide 500,000 dollars (417,000 U.S. dollars) through the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization for programs addressing the needs of orphans and vulnerable children.

A further 500,000 dollars will be provided through a joint program with the British government to help support national and regional institutions working to improve responses to continuing food insecurity.

Since August 2005, Australia has provided more than 14 million dollars (11.7 million U.S. dollars) for international humanitarian relief efforts in southern Africa, according to Downer.

Source: Xinhua