World offers support to Australian flood victims
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At least 100 governments around the world have offered their support and sympathy to Australia's Queensland flood victims, Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said on Thursday.
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A couple walks past a flooded apartment building in the Brisbane suburb of West End January 12, 2011. [Xinhua/Reuters] |
"We have been inundated with expressions of solidarity, support and offers of military aid ... as well as other forms of assistance as well," Rudd told the Australian TV Seven Network on Thursday.
"Yesterday, the Indonesian foreign minister was on the phone to me -- they're sticking money into the premier's appeal here to help those families who fall through the cracks," he said.
"I would say at least 100 governments around the world have been on the phone to myself, the prime minister, expressing solidarity and support."
Rudd said the attitude of Australians in times of natural disasters is one of comradeship and generosity and those are now being recouped.
"The thing about Australia is, we're used to going out and helping," he said.
"It's unusual for the world to see us in trouble and so when they see us in trouble, I think there's a natural response: 'The Australians are always there for us, let's let them know that they're not alone', which is a good sense of being part of the human family."
The offers of international support have come from Asia, Europe and America, Rudd said.
More than 25,000 homes have been totally or partially flooded in Brisbane. Initial assessments based on the revised peak will mean 11,500 residential homes have been fully flooded.
Around 116,000 homes across south-east Queensland are without power.
The death toll from the disaster has reached 12.
