Mozambique: EU Commission provides €2m fast-track humanitarian aid for Cyclone Favio victims

The European Commission has moved quickly to help the victims of Cyclone Favio in Mozambique. A fast-track "primary emergency" decision has been adopted providing €2 million for immediate relief activities. The Commission is also dispatching an aircraft tonight from its ECHO Flight operation, normally based in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This will transport Red Cross and UN emergency relief supplies to the stricken zone. The operations are managed by the Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) under the responsibility of Commissioner Louis Michel.

Louis Michel, the Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, said: "Mozambique has been dealt two bad blows in quick succession. Barely a fortnight after 120,000 people were displaced in floods caused by torrential rains, the country has now suffered the effects of a tropical cyclone. Good contingency planning by the Mozambique authorities has helped a lot but after such a major storm, there are obviously a lot of people who need help. We aim to get it to them as soon as possible, with this rapid decision."

The funding will be used to provide basic assistance to cyclone victims who, in the initial phase, need access to clean water, proper sanitation and hygiene products to avoid the spread of disease, as well as shelter, emergency medical care and essential household items.

A team of Commission humanitarian experts has arrived in Vilanculos, the city that bore the brunt of the cyclone. They are carrying out needs assessments and coordinating with other humanitarian actors.

The €2 million being provided today is in addition to €2 million in emergency aid allocated last week to help flood victims in the country. The humanitarian funds managed by the Commission are channeled through its implementing partners: UN agencies, non-governmental relief organisations and the Red Cross.

Background

For further information: http://ec.europa.eu/echo/index_en.htm

Photographs showing the aftermath of Cyclone Favio in Vilanculos can be downloaded at
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/information/library/mozambique/index_en.htm

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• Mozambique: EU Commission allocates €2 M in emergency aid to flood victims (14/2/2007)
• European Commission allocates €2 million in humanitarian aid to drought in Mozambique (13/3/2006)