July 30th, 2010 3:42 am
The federal government will provide $2 million in humanitarian assistance to flood victims in southern Africa.The recent flooding has affected more than half a million people in Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia.Parliamentary secretary for international development assistance, Bob McMullen, said victims were facing threats to food security and the risk of disease outbreaks.He said the money would be used to help people gain access to safe water and sanitation facilities and emergency shelter.It would also be used to pay for seeds and equipment to grow food and for kits containing blankets, mosquito nets, cutlery and crockery for people who have lost their homes, he said.Non-government organisations and international aid agencies including Caritas, the Red Cross, World Vision and Oxfam will distribute the money.”A significant proportion of the package will be set aside to help these countries enhance their capacity to respond to emergencies,” Mr McMullen said.