Balance report by Foreign Ministry in the Council of Ministers

Vienna, 23 January 2008 - Following the expiry of the agreed period of three years for the submission of the project, Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik presented a balance report to the Federal Government today on the relief measures undertaken by her Ministry after the tsunami disaster of 26 December 2004 in the Indian Ocean: "This guarantees full transparency in the tsunami aid provided by the Foreign Ministry", said Plassnik.

She added that the Foreign Ministry played a leading role in the consular assistance provided to the Austrians affected: "The primary concern was to quickly find our fellow citizens caught in the South-East Asian crisis area, to contact them, support them, and enable them to return to Austria", said Plassnik. A total of some 1,700 people were brought back to Austria from the disaster area in 31 ambulance and evacuation flights. The Foreign Ministry spent approx. 1.9 million Euros for these special flights and for other immediate measures, such as transfers and burial costs, and hospital and accommodation expenses.

In the area of reconstruction, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) participated in projects of non-governmental organizations with funds totalling 2 million Euros, mainly focusing on Sri Lanka: "As a result, the ADA has fully met its pledges", said the Foreign Minister. Specific projects included the reconstruction of fishing villages and health facilities, the areas of water and waste water, economic revival, training, and tourism.

This brings the total contribution made by the Foreign Ministry to the relief efforts after the tsunami disaster to 3.9 million Euros. Of this amount, approximately 1.45 million Euros were refunded from the Auslandskatastrophenfonds (foreign disaster aid fund).

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