Mozambique: Portugal, Japan cooperate to improve school conditions in Nampula
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The Chinese government yesterday made available more than 10,000 tons of rice to populations affected by the drought in the provinces of Gaza and Inhambane. The donation, which is worth US$10 million, will be channelled to around 700,000 people in these provinces by the National Institute of Disaster Management (INGC) and will provide support until March 2017.
The donation memorandum was signed by the Minister of State Administration and Public Service, Carmelita Namashulua and the Chinese ambassador, Su Jian, and adds to government efforts which so far include around 1.2 billion meticais in aid to drought victims, INGC director general João Machatine says.
The southern part of the country is among those worst affected by the effects of the ‘El Niño’ global climate phenomenon, which is characterised by scarcity of rainfall. By the second half of 2015, close to 166,000 people needed food support, a number which had risen to about 1.5 million people by the first quarter of this year.
On April 12, 2016, the government issued a red alert, which will be in effect until the end of the present agricultural season, when the current food shortages are expected to ease off. The alert, according to Machatine, facilitates the mobilisation of resources by cooperation partners.
“We want to enhance the contribution in efforts to mitigate the effects of drought, which will increase the resilience of communities in the most critical areas,” he said. Assistance would be extended until March 2017 and covers water supply, nutrition, food and agriculture components.
Meanwhile, China’s ambassador to China, Su Jian, said that his government was monitoring drought and floods in Mozambique and that the present contribution would help address the country’s needs. In the context of drought relief, China planned to finance the sinking of 202 wells in the southern region of the country, the ambassador revealed.
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