The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network is heartened by this week’s announcement by Andrew Giles MP, Jason Clare MP, and Tony Burke MP of an Australian Government commitment of $2.6 million to Australian Palestinian-led community organisations, including Palestine Australia Relief and Action (PARA).
This funding will be instrumental in addressing the urgent needs of Palestinian refugees who have fled Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
The funding will enable PARA and other community organisations to offer critical, culturally appropriate support and essential services to these newly-arrived Palestinians.
These community organisations have, during the past 10 months, relied on the time, energy and networks of the diaspora Palestinian community in Australia, itself deeply traumatised by the ongoing genocide.
The announcement serves as recognition of the vital work of PARA, and other Palestinian organisations, their volunteers and allies, for their tireless efforts in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of Palestinians who have escaped, or are still striving to flee, Israel’s ongoing violence.
Quotes attributed to APAN President Nasser Mashni:
This is the funding our Palestinian community has so desperately needed, has been calling for, and has been waiting for, and we thank the Australian Government for its support.
Community volunteers have done their very best to ensure that Palestinian families arriving from genocide-torn Gaza are supported and cared for, dipping into their own resources and reserves and collecting donations from generous community members to make sure people haven’t gone without.
This funding will now boost that volunteer effort, and is a helping hand from the government to support the delivery of essential services and basic needs to enable these individuals and families to try to rebuild their lives.
This announcement validates the immense contributions and relentless efforts of the Palestinian community on this continent, who have been working so hard for almost 10 months to support their community through Israel’s brutal genocide in Gaza, all while dealing with the impacts of this horror on their own mental health and lives.