By Tara Cosoleto in Melbourne
THE federal government has pledged $265 million to support refugees and sustain humanitarian efforts overseas.
About $235 million will go towards supporting displaced Rohingya and communities in need in Myanmar and Bangladesh.
A further $20 million has been allocated to Afghanistan, while $10 million will go towards supporting people in Sudan and those displaced to neighbouring countries.
The funding pledge was made at the United Nations’ Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, where Australia also reaffirmed its commitment to the Global Compact on Refugees.
“We are seeing the largest displacement crisis unfolding in modern history, with more than 114 million people displaced globally,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.
“Our humanitarian assistance is part of a broader effort to address the causes of displacement and find durable solutions.”
Australia’s humanitarian resettlement program has been increased to 20,000 places, the highest core intake in more than a decade.
The federal government also recently established a refugee advisory panel to ensure those with lived experience advise on Australia’s settlement programs.
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