BENGHAZI, Libya (AFP) ? Australia vowed on Sunday to keep up humanitarian aid to Libya, as a senior official from Canberra visited the country for the first time since the revolt against Moamer Kadhafi erupted in mid-February.
Paul Grigson, Australia's deputy foreign affairs and trade secretary, met members of the rebel National Transitional Council for talks, underscoring Australia's role in providing aid and its recognition of Libya's rebel council.
"(The visit) underlines the Australian government's acknowledgment of the TNC as the legitimate representatives of the Libyan people," said Grigson.
Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd in June recognised the National Transitional Council as "the legitimate interlocutor" of the Libyan people during a visit to Abu Dhabi.
"Australia... has been a very significant supporter, in a humanitarian sense, of the Libyan people to this point," said Grigson, pledging to carry that on in the future.
"Australia is focusing on the health sector. We are the third largest donor on the humanitarian side after the US and the EU."
"It strikes us that food security and health are the key issues at present and as schools go back (in September) assistance in the education sector."
Libya's health sector has been hobbled by fighting, a lack of cash to pay for medicines and the exodus of hundreds of thousands of foreign workers who were essential to providing basic services.
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