US has not asked Australia to send navy to Middle East
The US did not request Australia to send a warship to help reopen one of the world’s most important oil corridors, which was closed by Iran in response to the US-led war.
President Donald Trump has requested a naval coalition of different countries to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has closed to give itself an advantage in the conflict.
Shipping was greatly disrupted and global oil prices soared.
Defense Minister Richard Marles said the government would consider any request to join the conflict in the national interest, but no direct request had been made to Australia.
“We’ve not received a request from the United States in respect of the Straits of Hormuz,” he told Nine’s Today on Tuesday.
“We are not planning to send a ship, but we have not received a request.”
It comes after Australia’s leading aid agencies launched a public appeal to raise urgent funds to support relief efforts in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza and the West Bank.
“Thousands of people have been killed or injured, millions have been displaced from their homes and tens of millions are living in fear,” Mat Tinkler, chief executive of Save the Children Australia, told AAP.
“We ask the Australian public to show their generosity and goodwill to help people overseas in this terrible situation.”
According to the International Organization for Migration, almost one million people were forced to flee their homes in Lebanon as a result of the war.
In Iran, more than 3.2 million people have been displaced since the conflict began in late February; Approximately 1,300 people were reported dead and more than 9,000 injured.
People in war-torn Gaza and Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and the West Bank are also affected by the disruption of aid lines, loss of access to food, clean water, fuel and medical supplies, and refugees crossing borders.
Australia’s donations to this appeal will provide food, shelter, water, sanitation, healthcare and schools to charities, as well as support for families who “currently have nothing”.
Charities hope to raise millions of dollars and say the funds will make an immediate impact.
“All our agencies are already active in the crisis in the Middle East, so this will give us the confidence to provide supplies and provide further relief,” Mr. Tinkler said.
The 15 charities behind the Joint Middle East Appeal are: Save the Children Australia, Plan International Australia, Oxfam Australia, Australia for UNHCR, ActionAid, CARE Australia, Caritas Australia, ADRA, Act for Peace, Anglican Overseas Aid, Australian Lutheran World Service, Baptist World Aid, CBM, ChildFund Australia and Tearfund.
Australians wishing to donate to the Middle East Appeal are asked to go to: emergencyaction.org.au/middle-east-appeal/ or call 1300 939 000.
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