Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith announced on Tuesday his government pledged an extra 5 million Australian dollars (US$3.25 million) of emergency assistance to help the war-devastated people in the Gaza Strip.

Smith said 3 million Australian dollars (US$1.95 million) will be given to United Nations agencies to replenish food and emergency stores, and the rest 2 million (US$1.3 million) to Australian non-government organizations.

The money brings Australia's emergency assistance to Gaza this year to 10 million Australian dollars (US$6.5 million).

More than 1,300 Palestinians were killed and about 5,300 wounded during Israel's three-week military offensive in Gaza, launched on December 27 and aimed at ending Palestinian militant rocket fire into Israel.

(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2009)