Friday, March 9

Media Release

MEDIA RELEASE
AUSAID
Aus 07 01 8 March 2007

Australian Head of AusAID Indonesia Missing in Yogyakarta

Our colleague - one of Australia's most dedicated aid workers remains unaccounted for following the crash of Garuda Flight 220 yesterday.

She is Mrs Allison Sudradjat, AusAID's Minister Counsellor in Indonesia. Allison was travelling to Yogyakarta as part of an official Australian Government visit.

Allison is our most senior official in Indonesia and the head of the Indonesia program. Since joining AusAID in 1989 she has spent considerable time working overseas in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. She went to Indonesia in 2004, three days after the tsunami. She is based at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta.

AusAID staff have been on the ground in Yogyakarta since early yesterday, working with local officials to locate Australians and assist survivors of the crash.

There have been strenuous efforts made to locate Allison, but to this point these efforts have been unsuccessful.

Our hopes and prayers are with Allison and her family at this very difficult time, and with all of the Australians and Indonesians affected.

For AusAID, helping and supporting Allison's family is our first priority. We have sent staff from Canberra to provide support to colleagues and family members in Indonesia.

Note to editors: Allison Sudradjat's surname is pronounced soohd-rah-jaht.


(Source: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/media/release.cfm?BC=Media&ID=8559_6801_4280_5561_2292)