Ahern Announces 750,000 Euro For Disaster Relief In Mozambique

Ireland was one of the first responders to this crisis. Announcing the funding, which will be made available immediately to key Irish NGOs and international partners, Minister Lenihan said: "Torrential rains and flooding since December 2006 have caused 80,000 people in Mozambique to flee their homes.

"Irish Aid support will ensure that these people receive urgently need food assistance and basic sanitation.

"This funding will ensure that displaced communities have access to clean water, latrines and first aid. Irish Aid is committed to responding quickly and effectively to disasters."

The Mozambique National Centre for Disaster Management estimates that 285,000 people in Mozambique may be affected by the current emergency if heavy rains continue, as is expected.

Houses, roads, bridges, schools and crops have been destroyed.

In 1996 Ireland established a bilateral aid programme in Mozambique.

It is now one of Ireland's largest country programmes with a budget for 2007 of €31 million.

The programme is designed to reduce poverty through broad-based economic growth, equitable social development and improved democratic governance.