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Mozambique

Zambia Sets up Committee to Raise Funds for Mozambique

LUSAKA (March 6) XINHUA - Zambia's parliament has set up a parliamentary committee to raise funds and other materials for flood victims in Mozambique, a senior parliamentarian said.

"The Zambian parliament members have responded to the call to help our brothers and sisters in Mozambique and so far a committee has been set up to raise money for the flood victims," said Vernon Mwaanga, parliamentary chief of the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD).

The parliamentarians found it prudent to help alleviate the sufferings of the people in the flood-hit Mozambique, the Times of Zambia newspaper Monday quoted Mwaanga as saying lately.

The money would be deposited in the SOS-Mozambique account and other materials would be directed to the SOS-Mozambique committee headed by Sebastian Kopulande, former Zambian Permanent Secretary at State House.

Mwaanga also commended the government for donating 120 tons of food and medical aid worth over one million U.S. dollars to the displaced people in Mozambique.

He said the government's response was in line with the resolutions of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) emergency meeting, compelling all member countries to be involved in the Mozambique situation.

The 14-member SADC was also working on long-term plans to rebuild infrastructures after the Cyclone Eline-induced floods.

Mozambique has been hit by devastating floods for the past three weeks. Reportedly, about two million people have been displaced.

Copyright (c) 2000 Comtex Scientific Corporation
Received by NewsEdge Insight: 03/06/2000 03:21:11