O'Donnell Confirms Further Aid for Mozambique
Ms. Liz O'Donnell T.D., Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Overseas Development Aid and Human Rights today confirmed that a special contribution is to be made to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Mozambique in the aftermath of the catastrophic floods which devastated the country earlier this year. The pledge was made at the International Conference for Reconstruction in Mozambique, held in Rome on 3-4 May when Ireland committed IR£4.5m in addition to the emergency humanitarian assistance provided earlier this year (IR£2,365,000) and the existing programme of long-term annual development aid to Mozambique (IR£7.4m).
It is intended that the funds pledged will be allocated as follows
- debt support IR£1.7m
- roads reconstruction IR£3.3m
The Conference was convened on foot of the serious and protracted flooding which beset Mozambique in February of this year; the flood destruction was then aggravated by the onslaught of Cyclones Eline and Hudah. These resulted in over half a million Mozambicans being displaced and many hundreds of lives being lost. Total crop destruction and the washing away of roads set back long-term development by years.
The Minister of State said
"the task facing Mozambique in the coming months and years is a daunting one. We are pledged to working together with the Government and people to rebuild the shattered infrastructure and to recreate conditions which will allow the people to overcome the worst effects of this disaster."
