IV

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. RES. 431

Expressing support for humanitarian assistance to the Republic of

Mozambique.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 8, 2000

Mr. MEEKS of New York (for himself, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. GEJDENSON, Mr.

CAMPBELL, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. HOUGHTON, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Ms.

LEE, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. WYNN, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Ms. CARSON, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mr. CUMMINGS, Ms. WATERS,

Mr. RANGEL, Mr. CONYERS, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Ms. KILPATRICK, Mr.

DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. HILLIARD, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. FATTAH, Mr.

CROWLEY, and Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York) submitted the following

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

RESOLUTION

Expressing support for humanitarian assistance to the

Republic of Mozambique.

Whereas on February 9, 2000, the southern Africa nations

of Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and

Zimbabwe began to experience severe flooding caused by

days of heavy rain;

Whereas the Republic of Mozambique bore the brunt of the

torrential rains and experienced the worst flooding in 50

years;
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Whereas roads, homes, bridges, the energy infrastructure,

and crops were destroyed;

Whereas many towns are without potable water and the corresponding public health threat from water-borne diseases is severe;

Whereas on February 22, 2000, tropical cyclone Eline blew

full force into Mozambique, exacerbating an already terrible humanitarian crisis;

Whereas continued rainfall from swollen rivers in neighboring

southern African countries threatens to bring more flood

waters into Mozambique;

Whereas thousands of Mozambicans have lost everything and

are in desperate need of water, food, and shelter;

Whereas in 1992 Mozambique ended a bloody 16 year civil

war and has made substantial progress on democratic

freedoms and multi-party elections;

Whereas Mozambique is one of the world’s poorest countries

where 27 percent of all babies born die before the age of

5;

Whereas the flooding has virtually wiped out the significant

economic recovery the Mozambican people have worked

hard to achieve over the last 8 years;

Whereas large segments of Mozambican crops were spared

from the cyclone and flooding and could be utilized to

feed needy citizens later this year;

Whereas the Government of Mozambique will require massive

international assistance over the next 90 days and the

growing international relief effort must remain on high

alert for the next several weeks; and
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Whereas prior to the flood disaster, Mozambique was one of

the first countries to qualify for benefits under the World

Bank/IMF Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative:

Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) commends the Government of the Republic

3 of South Africa for its quick response and assistance

4 to the Mozambican people;

5 (2) commends the Government of the United

6 Kingdom for announcing debt cancellation for Mo7 zambique so that precious financial resources may

8 be dedicated to the national relief and recovery ef9 fort;

10 (3) commends the Administration for its grow11 ing involvement and leadership in coordinating

12 America’s disaster assistance package to the Repub13 lic of Mozambique;

14 (4) urges the United States Government to take

15 the lead in coordinating international efforts to help

16 the Republic of Mozambique salvage what remains

17 of this year’s food crops and to provide seeds for

18 rural agricultural growers;

19 (5) encourages the international community to

20 continue to provide emergency relief, airlift capacity,

21 and other disaster assistance to the Republic of Mo22 zambique for the next 90 days;
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1 (6) urges the international community to take

2 all necessary steps to locate and demarcate areas

3 that may now harbor semi-boyant plastic land mines

4 transported to new locations by the flooding in Mo5 zambique;

6 (7) requests that the international community

7 develop a coordinated response to the Government of

8 Mozambique’s request for recovery and reconstruc9 tion assistance for buildings and transportation in10 frastructure; and

11 (8) encourages the international community to

12 assist the nations of southern Africa to increase

13 their capacity to respond to national emergencies

14 and natural disasters.

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