MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
ALEXANDER DOWNER
Treasurer and Minister for Foreign Affairs
AA 00 007 4 March 2000
The Australian Government is greatly saddened by the devastation and loss of life caused by the widespread flooding affecting Mozambique.
Australia will provide a further $1.5 million to help the victims of the devastating floods in Mozambique.
The World Food Programme (WFP) will receive $250,000 to support their rescue and food distribution operations.
Australia will contribute $1 million to Mozambique to assist local communities with rehabilitation efforts once the floods have subsided. These efforts are likely to focus on providing people with essential supplies such as food and water as well as helping to rebuild houses, helping to restore vegetable gardens and repairing damaged schools.
AusAID officers have been despatched to Mozambique to liaise with the Mozambique Government as well as local and international aid agencies on how Australia's rehabilitation assistance can be best used by those affected by the floods.
Zimbabwe and South Africa are also experiencing serious flooding. Additional funding of $250,000 will be made available to Australian diplomatic missions in Zimbabwe and South Africa to support local activities to assist victims of this natural disaster.
This announcement of $1.5 million is in addition to assistance Australia has already provided for emergency relief - $150,000 was provided to UNICEF to assist in providing medical supplies and $100,000 to WFP to deliver emergency food aid.
If Australians wish to assist the flood victims, I would encourage them to make a donation to one of the emergency appeals issued by Australian aid organisations.
Media contacts: Innes Willox (Ministerial)
02 6277 7500 / 0419 206 890
Fionna Douglas (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 / 0412 804 489