Mozambique receives humanitarian aid from EU

Maputo, 3 Jul (AIM) – The European Union and the governments of Portugal and Italy have coordinated efforts to undertake three flights carrying humanitarian cargo to support the victims of extremist violence in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado.

The first of the three flights arrived in Pemba, the provincial capital, on 3 July, carrying medical and humanitarian material donated by the Portuguese and Italian governments, as well as goods donated by civil society organisations in both countries.

These assets are destined both for the Mozambican authorities and for international NGOs, such as the Italian Community of Sant’Egidio. The Mozambican Red Cross and Caritas will receive goods donated by their counterparts in Portugal.

Present at the arrival of this flight were the Portuguese Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Francisco André; the chargé d'affaires of the Italian Embassy, Patrick Mura and Caroline Lopes representing the European Union Delegation in Mozambique.

These humanitarian support flights are part of the joint and integrated efforts that the European Union and its Member States have been developing to support Mozambique in the context of the terrorist attacks in parts of Cabo Delgado.

A European Union press release states that the support covers three complementary dimensions, namely cooperation for development, humanitarian assistance and cooperation in peace and security matters.

The European Union and the Governments of Italy and Portugal have reaffirmed their availability to, continue, together with the Mozambican authorities, to make all the necessary efforts to mitigate the most pressing needs of the people affected by the ongoing violence in Cabo Delgado.
(AIM)