/ 3 March 2000

FLOODS: EU INSISTS IT ACTED QUICKLY

THE European Union on Thursday said critics of the West’s response to the flood disaster in Mozambique have it wrong, as the EU had quickly committed millions of dollars in relief funding. Michael Laidler, EU ambassador to South Africa, insists the European Commission donated around 800000 dollars for immediate relief for flood victims within four days of realising the situation in Mozambique was dire. Another $4-million will be handed over in the next few weeks. While aid pours in from several countries across the globe, a US military plane arrived in South Africa Thursday with 45 tons of humanitarian aid for flood victims. The aid is intended for people in the Northern Province and Mpumalanga, worst-hit by heavy rains and flooding last month which claimed about 100 lives.