Minister O'Donnell Approves Emergency Funding for Victims of the Flooding in Mozambique
Liz O'Donnell, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Overseas Development Assistance, has announced an immediate allocation of IR£160,000 in emergency humanitarian assistance for Mozambique, in response to the devastating floods which have hit the southern states of Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane.
The Minister of State said:
"The southern provinces of Mozambique are suffering the effects of the heaviest rains to have hit the region in over fifty years. Hundreds of thousands of people have been affected with tens of thousands left homeless and in need of emergency humanitarian assistance. In addition to the devastation already caused, reports are coming in today of a tropical cyclone which has begun battering the Province of Inhambane."
Mozambique is a priority country for Ireland's Development Aid programme. As well as supporting activities at national level, Ireland Aid has concentrated assistance on Niassa Province in the north-east of the country and Inhambane province in the south. Assistance has gone to support water and sanitation, health and education projects as well as mine clearance operations.
The Minister of State commented:
"Our Embassy in Maputo have been keeping us informed of the current crisis affecting Mozambique. On Friday the Embassy undertook an aerial survey of the Province of Inhambane, accompanied by the Provincial Governor, to investigate reports of flooding throughout the province. The funding I have announced today will be used for the provision of emergency food and non-food items in the worst affected areas of Inhambane and Maputo."
