Fed: Six missing Australians of concern after quake: Downer

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-2004
Fed: Six missing Australians of concern after quake: Downer

ADELAIDE, Dec 27 AAP - The Australian government held concerns for six Australians
who remain unaccounted for after the devastating earthquake and tsunamis in southern Asia,
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today.

Mr Downer said the six Australians included three in Phuket, two in Indonesia and one
in Sri Lanka.

But he said that number was likely to change during the day as further reports of missing
people were received, or some of those missing were found.

"At this stage we understand around half a dozen, six Australians are of concern, but
these numbers are likely to change around hour by hour as we get information," Mr Downer
said.

Mr Downer said the emergency consulate hotline had received more than 18,000 calls
regarding more than 4,000 Australians in the affected areas.

"We've never had the volume of calls we've had this time," Mr Downer said.

"For example, with the Bali bombings there were many fewer calls than we've got this time.

"We've had to call in Centrelink to help with the work because there's been such an
enormous number of calls."

Mr Downer said Australia would provide $10 million in financial aid, probably through
the Red Cross and United Nations.

"We do want to make a very strong contribution, we'll do everything we can to assist
with the relief and we're a country which has some resources to be able to do that," he
said.

Emergency supplies, such as bottled water, tarpaulins and blankets were also to be
delivered by the Royal Australian Air Force, he said.

"First of all we have to establish where our contribution would be of greatest use,
so we're giving consideration to that, there are still discussions under way in Canberra,"

Mr Downer said.

Consular officials were travelling to Bangkok and Colombo to reinforce existing Australian
embassies.

A consular officer from Colombo was flying to the Maldives, where there is no Australian embassy.

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KEYWORD: QUAKE ASIA DOWNER LEAD

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