27 March 2008
Maputo — The Portuguese government on Wednesday donated 700,000 US dollars to support Mozambique's relief agency, the National Disasters Management Institute (INGC), and to assist small scale fishermen, reports Thursday's issue of the daily 'Noticias'.
Of this sum, 450,000 US dollars are earmarked to strengthen the INGC's capacity to assist the victims of flooding in central Mozambique, and of cyclone Jokwe that hit the northern province of Nampula on 8-9 March.
The money was handed over on Mozambique Island, one of the districts worst hit by the cyclone, during the visit by Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva. The island, three kilometres off the Nampula coast, was the first colonial capital of Mozambique, and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
During the ceremony, Portuguese Ambassador Jose Freitas said that the remaining 250,000 US dollars will finance small scale fishing, which is the main economic activity for most families on Mozambique Island.
The money will be handled by the Portuguese NGO, Oikos, and by the Association of the Friends of Mozambique Island (AAIM).
The cyclone caused serious damages on Mozambique Island, where many fishermen saw their boats destroyed or swept away by the storm.
Freitas said that the money donated comes from contributions by the Portuguese government, and by two Portuguese banks, the Banco Comercial de Portugal, and the Caixa Geral de Depositos.
Speaking on the occasion, Cavaco Silva said that this gesture means that the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries are becoming ever stronger, "and we could not remain indifferent after the floods and the cyclone left thousands of families in a difficult situation".
He added that initiatives to support the implementation of social and economic projects on Mozambique Island will continue to receive the attention of the Portuguese government, particularly in order to create job opportunities in fisheries, agriculture, and tourism.
For his part, Tourism Minister Fernando Sumbana, speaking on behalf of the Mozambican government, said this donation comes at a time when the government is working to strengthen the INGC's capacity to improve its assistance to the victims of disasters.
On his return from the Island, Cavaco Silva ended his three day state visit to Mozambique with a reception for the Portuguese community resident in the country.
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