Written Answers. - Overseas Development Aid.
Ivor Callely
Question:
258
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will give an update on the situation that prevails in Mozambique; the real benefits that Mozambicans have enjoyed following the emergency relief and reconstruction programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2349/01]
The response of the international community to the crisis in Mozambique resulting from the cyclones and flooding of February-March last year was centred on short-term emergency relief in response to the appeal of the Government of Mozambique for $1,000 million to meet immediate needs and medium-term rehabilitation assistance based on the appeal at the international reconstruction conference for Mozambique held in Rome on 3 and 4 May 2000 in which the Government of Mozambique sought US$449.5 million in international support for its reconstruction programme. Both of these financing targets were met by the international community.
In addition to the immediate £700,000 emergency relief provided by Ireland, a further IR£1.6 million was reallocated from the budget for long-term development projects in Mozambique to meet short-term needs arising from the emergency. Furthermore, an amount of IR£4.5 million was pledged by Ireland at the international donor conference held in Rome last May for the reconstruction process. A total of IR£1.7 million of this amount was designated for payment to the debt alleviation fund established by the Mozambican Government to assist in relieving the burden of debt on the country. The remaining IR£2.8 million is being used for the rehabilitation of roads washed away in the flood affected province of Inhambane where Ireland has had a development programme since 1996.
The emergency phase, involving assistance to those affected to return to their normal life by, for example, providing housing materials, seeds and farming implements, concluded in August 2000. The reconstruction phase, using the funds raised at the conference in Rome, is expected to last until the end of 2001. The Government of Mozambique is determined that the infrastructure damaged by the floods must be restored and, equally importantly, that preventive measures be taken to mitigate the effects of any future natural disasters.
The disastrous floods, which caused havoc in the southern half of Mozambique in the first half of 2000, continue to cause longer-term difficulties for the country. Rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure is ongoing and the majority of displaced people have returned to their homes. As planting was disrupted by the floods, it is anticipated that agricultural output as a whole will be adversely affected. On a macro level the predictions for economic growth have been downgraded by Ministry of Finance staff and the IMF from over 7% to 3.8%.
Since Ireland Aid has a particular focus in the southern province of Inhambane, funds from our ongoing development programme are being utilised in the rehabilitation of education and health facilities damaged by flood waters. The main arterial road through the province, the EN1, was badly damaged in a number of places. Rehabilitation of this road is vital for the economic life of the province as it provides the main access throughout the province. This road is being rehabilitated with US $3.3 million of additional Ireland Aid funds. The road has now re-opened to all traffic, although rehabilitation work continues on large sections.
Although the immediate effects of the floods are almost dealt with, the long-term effects have yet to be calculated. Economic growth has been almost halved and subsistence agricultural output has been badly affected in large parts of the country. More worrying in the shorter term is the onset of the seasonal rains, expected in February. The water table is still alarmingly high from the flooding last spring and it is feared that even normal rains could result in renewed flooding, perhaps as early as next month. The embassy in Maputo is keeping a close watching brief on the emerging situation and reporting regularly on developments.
