Maputo, Mozambique — Six UN agencies on Wednesday launched a joint appeal to the international community to raise 10.7 million US dollars to meet the priority needs of flood victims in central Mozambique.

The appeal follows the Mozambican government's request late February for 36.5 million US dollars to help provide relief assistance to flood victims in the country.

The agencies hope to raise slightly less than a third of the government's appeal.

The UN agencies concerned, include the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA).

Launching the appeal in Maputo, the UN officials said that the agencies were not in competition with the government's appeal, but were supporting it.

The agencies hope to raise 2.6 million dollars for logistics and transport, 2.4 million for health needs, and a further 2.4 million for agriculture in a bid to provide farmers with seeds and tools.

About 1.9 million dollars would be used to provide clean water as well as sanitation, while the rest of the money would be used for shelter, education and co-ordination.