Christian Aid is supporting the delivery
of emergency aid to the victims of the flooding in Mozambique. Up to one
million people have been affected by the flooding and the subsequent cyclone.
Christian Aid-funded organisations in
Mozambique are supplying high-energy food packs, cooking oil, candles and
matches. A Christian Aid team has travelled to the region to assess what
else can be done to alleviate the situation.
Christian Aid's partner organisations in Mozambique are delivering aid to more than 31,000 people in the badly affected Maputo and Gaza areas, and charity is also appealing for donations to buy urgently needed aid packs.
Tony Dykes, Head of Christian Aid's Southern Africa team, said there was a desperate need for aid during the initial emergency period. But he added the critical phase would last for at least 12 months. There are fears that malaria and cholera could reach epidemic proportions because of the floods.
"The people of Mozambique are dealing with this disaster as best they can. But they are subsistence farmers and they have lost their crops. They have nothing. We have to help them now and in the longer term we need to help with rehabilitation.
"We have been working in Mozambique for 20 years. When the television crews pull out, we will still be there working with the people to rebuild their shattered lives."
Donations can be made by calling Christian Aid on 0345 000 300 (calls charged at local rates) or online; alternatively you can post a cheque made payable to the Mozambique Relief Fund to PO Box 100, London SE1 7RT.
Ends
Notes to editors:
Mozambique is the latest in a long list of developing countries to be hit by extreme weather conditions, potentially associated with global warming. There is a scientific consensus that carbon dioxide is one of the main causes of global warming. Japan releases 1.16 billion metric tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere each year. Mozambique releases just 1 million.
The British government has offered $1.2m (£765,000) in aid - less than the $1.4m a week Mozambique pays in debt repayments.
Japan, which in July hosts the next G8 leaders' summit where Third World debt will be discussed has offered $100,000-worth of tents, blankets and plastic sheets. At the same time, Japan takes $5m a year from Mozambique in debt repayments (Mozambique owes Japan $56m).
For more information contact Dominic Nutt on (44) (0)171 523 2427 or (44) ( 0)410 891 395, Tony Dykes on (44) (0)171 523 2110.