Vol. 420 No. 3
27 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the ongoing armed conflict in Mozambique, he is prepared to include an aid component for safeguarding the transport of relief supplies in Mozambique; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Developments in Mozambique are a cause of great concern. Millions of people are being threatened by famine and drought and tens of thousands have been killed in the civil war.
There is a relief operation under way in Mozambique co-ordinated by the Mozambique Government and involving the army. United Nations relief agencies and NGOs, including some Irish ones, are playing an important part in this relief effort.
While there have been some serious security problems in the delivery of relief to parts of Mozambique, I understand that agreement has now been reached between the parties concerned and relief supplies should be able to reach those in need. In order to be fully effective, the relief effort requires a cease-fire and ultimately a peace settlement. It is hoped that negotiations will resume shortly. Ireland, together with our EC partners, is actively supporting efforts aimed at achieving peace.
The Irish Government have provided bilateral assistance to the relief operation in Mozambique, in the form of cash grants from the disaster relief fund totalling £85,000 (eighty five thousand pounds) since January 1990.
Ireland, of course, contributes towards the funding of the EC's food aid programmes for Mozambique which in 1992 will amount to about £40 million. This includes a special provision for Mozambique under the recently agreed EC Special Food Aid Programme.
