Almost 200 aid workers have died so far this year, with the majority killed in Gaza, Sudan and South Sudan.
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Frankcom’s family backed the initiative, saying in a statement: “People like Zomi are rare, and their bravery and selflessness should be not only celebrated but protected.
“They can’t be brave at any cost.”
The family said that Frankcom should have been able to expect that “the lives of humanitarian aid workers like her wouldn’t be carelessly disregarded”.
“We also wish for an immediate end to the blatant disregard for safety shown to aid workers and innocent civilians in the current conflict, but more so, a ceasefire and end to the current conflict,” the family said.
UNICEF Australia chief executive Tony Stuart welcomed the initiative, saying: “Humanitarian workers put their lives in danger and they deserve that we do everything we can to protect them.”
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Australian Red Cross Executive Director of International Humanitarian Law Yvette Zegenhagen said: “We hope that this initiative will drive forward global dialogue and action that enhances the safety of aid workers, with the hope of ensuring they can operate as safely as possible in some of the world’s most dangerous areas.”
Former Australian Defence Force chief Mark Binskin found in a report released in July that “a significant breakdown in situational awareness” by the Israeli military caused the strike that killed Frankcom, adding he did not believe the charity workers were deliberately targeted.
Before leaving for New York, Wong announced the government would provide an extra $10 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza via UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund, with a focus on the delivery of nutrition support, plus hygiene and dignity kits to women and girls.
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