United Nations agencies have received more than $32 million in financial contributions to help up to a million victims of the flooding in Mozambique, the UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs said yesterday.
Mozambique last week estimated it would need $65 million following the devastating floods - the country's worst in living memory - but has revised the figure to $250 million.
A UN spokesman, Mr Donato Kiniger, also said the UN had 30 helicopters at its disposal to help people stranded in the flooding and to enable the World Food Programme (WFP) to distribute food. Evacuating those still stranded by the water could take another two days, he said..
A WFP spokeswoman, Christiane Berthiaume, said more than 10,000 people had been evacuated since last Sunday. "But there are still thousands who need to be saved," she added.
In the southern province of Gaza 36,000 people have gathered in two camps near Bilene - one at Macia and the other at Chiaguelene - where planes and helicopters are able to land and take off.
Irish charities involved in fund-raising for the disaster have reported a very positive response from the public to their appeals this past week. A spokesman for Concern said its efforts were going "extremely well" while at Goal the phones were said to be "hopping."
Concern has already allocated £500,000 to Mozambique, of which £79,000 came from the Department of Foreign Affairs. A spokesman said donations had already reached £150,000 and were coming in at the rate of between £8,000 and £10,000 daily. Concern has four staff in Mozambique, with five more on the way. On Tuesday the agency is sending a plane carrying 40,000 kilos of aid, including blankets and medical kits, to the flood-stricken country. Donations to Concern may be made by telephone on 1850 410 510.
Trocaire has allocated £100,000 already and also reports a very generous response to its appeal, launched three days ago. It is distributing aid through local organisations in Mozambique, where it has been since the 1970s. Personnel there is being increased to four. Donations to Trocaire may be made on 1850 408 408; in Northern Ireland via freephone 0500 340 300, or to the agency at 169 Booterstown Ave, Blackrock, Co Dublin.
To date Goal has allocated £30,000 to relief in the stricken country and is sending 40 tons of aid by plane this weekend. It will have six workers in Mozambique by Monday. Yesterday its appeal had raised approximately £70,000. Goal donations may be made by ringing (01) 2809779.
Oxfam Ireland has pledged £50,000 as an initial contribution to assist the thousands of affected people. It has been in Mozambique since 1986, and is currently focusing relief on providing food and shelter for displaced people. Its director Mr Brian Scott said: "This is a terrible tragedy for a country that was just beginning to get back on its feet after 16 years of civil war . . . we are appealing to the Irish public to help ordinary people caught up in this disaster." Donations to Oxfam Ireland may be made by calling 1800 556 559.
The Irish Red Cross has made an initial donation of £20,000, through the International Red Cross, while a spokesman said contributions from the public were going "very well". He said its headquarters in Geneva had made a request for cash donations as this was the quickest way of getting relief to the people who needed it. Donations to the Irish Red Cross may be made by telephone on (01) 6765135 or by sending cheques/postal orders etc. to 16, Merrion Square, Dublin 2.
The Presbyterian Moderator, Dr John Lockington, has urged church members to give generously to relief agencies. In a letter sent to every church minister in Ireland he said: "I am sure that people would wish to respond to this desperate situation and I would hope that at congregation level we can respond in Christ's name."
