The appeal from the leading child rights organisation is part of a Global Day of Action by the Safer World for All campaign, a coalition of dozens of Australian NGOs, calling on “down under to step up” and help put the world back on the path to progress, peace and prosperity.
Australia provided $4.77 billion in foreign aid in 2023-24, a contribution that sees Australia ranking a lowly 26 out of 31 among likeminded, wealthy countries on how much foreign aid we provide.
As the number of people in need of humanitarian aid globally surpasses 300 million, Australia’s aid budget is projected to remain stagnant, adjusted for inflation, into the next decade.
While there are an overwhelming number of crises occurring around the world today, Save the Children Australia pointed to just two as demonstrating in real time the need for the Australian Government to do more.
In Sudan, 25.6 million people – almost equivalent to the entire population of Australia - are in need of emergency food assistance, with some families now resorting to eating grass just to survive.
Despite the severity of the crisis and despite the fact that a number of Australia’s closest allies and friends, including the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany, having each provided upwards of $160 million to Sudan, Australia has provided just $33.45 since the war began in April 2023. Save the Children has called on Australia to provide at least $70 million to Sudan.
In Lebanon, Israeli attacks and forced evacuation orders have displaced 1.2 million people, representing 20% of the population, including 420,000 children.
Israeli airstrikes continue to intensify and expend into previously unaffected areas across Lebanon, with at least 2,500 people killed and 11,800 injured.
Australia has provided just $2 million in new aid funding to Lebanon since the escalation of the war five weeks ago, again falling well behind what likeminded partners have provided.
Save the Children Australia CEO, Mat Tinkler, said:
“It is simply unconscionable that in parts of Sudan right now, there are mothers boiling grass for their children to eat just to keep them alive, whilst children in Lebanon are being forced from their homes and into overcrowded shelters where they’re at increased risk of cholera and other diseases, while wealthy countries such as Australia fail to do enough to meet their urgent needs,” she said.
“I understand it’s an incredibly difficult time, with many Australians feeling overwhelmed by global crises and struggling with cost-of-living pressures here at home. But I also believe most Australians would be deeply concerned to learn that we’re one of the least generous wealthy countries in the world when it comes to foreign aid.”
“Frankly, I think many Australians would feel that not contributing our fair share in aid goes against the spirit of fairness and generosity we pride ourselves on. It’s time for Australia to step up and show the world what a 'fair go' really means.”
As part of increasing the foreign aid budget, Save the Children has called on Australia to double the Humanitarian Emergency Fund to $300 million annually and immediately allocate additional humanitarian funding directly to Sudan and Lebanon.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Joshua Mcdonald on 0478010972 or media.team@savethechildren.org.au.