Press Statement No. 560
The Prime Minister and Acting Minister for Foreign Affiars, Mr E. G. Whitlam, announced today that the Australian Government will make a cash contribution of $ 100,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross ( ICRC) appeal for
humanitarian assistance to the victims of the recent fighting in Portuguese Timor.
The Acting Minister said that the Australian Government has great confidence in the ICRC's capacity to assess relief requirements and to~ provide humanitarian assistance quickly and effectively. Accordingly the Australian Government will
rely on the ICRC's decisions with regard to which essential supplies for Portuguese Timor would be purchased with the $100,000.
The Acting Minister said that this contribution was additional to the assistance already being provided by Australia to the ICRC for relief operations in Timor: a RAAF Caribou aircraft and a medical team.
The Acting Minister said that the Australian Government, together with the Australian people, was concerned for the well being of the people who were suffering because of the present disturbances in Timor. He added that the Government would continue to give its close attention to the humanitarian aspects of the problem.
CANBERRA. A. C. T.
18 September 1975