According to a press release from the European Commission delegation in Mozambique, received by AIM on Wednesday, this money is to be used in providing basic assistance to the victims, particularly shelter, drinking water, sanitation and hygiene products, to prevent the outbreak of diseases, emergency medical care, and basic domestic utensils.
Speaking of the natural disasters that have hit Mozambique, the EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, commented "Mozambique suffered two hard blows in quick succession. Just two weeks after 120,000 people were displaced by floods caused by torrential rains, the country has now suffered the effects of a tropical cyclone".
He praised the Mozambican government's prompt action to deal with the situation, saying that "good emergency planning by the Mozambican authorities has been immensely helpful, but after a storm of such magnitude, there are obviously people who need assistance. With this speedy decision we intend to provide aid to those people as quickly as possible".
The document adds that the European Commission is also sending to the affected area a plane carrying emergency food aid provided by the United Nations and the Red Cross.
A team of EU experts is visiting Vilankulo, the town that suffered the worst effects of the cyclone, to assess the needs, and to coordinate with other humanitarian organizations.
This money comes on top of a similar sum for emergency aid, that the European Commission disbursed last week to assist the victims of floods in the Zambezi Valley.
The European Commission money is being managed by United Nations agencies, the Red Cross, NGOs, and other partners.
According to a release from the Norwegian Embassy in Maputo, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry has decided to allocate seven million crowns (about 1.1 million US dollars) in emergency assistance for the flood and cyclone victims.
These funds will be channelled through the Norwegian Red Cross, and will mostly be used to set up a mobile health unit.
SOURCE: AIM
