WRITTEN QUESTION P-0769/00

by Maria Carrilho (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2000)

Subject: Mozambique

At present it is impossible to assess the scale of the tragedy which has hit Mozambique, its land and its people. In the immediate future the question of survival is the absolute priority, but later on, during the reconstruction phase, it is essential to give the Mozambican people the hope and resources to enable them to resume the commitment which was producing such positive results in the country's development.

1. How does the Commission, which responded swiftly with emergency aid, intend to ensure its own transition from this phase to the reconstruction phase?

2. What material and organisational resources does it expect to have available during the reconstruction phase and what would the timetable be?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(17 April 2000)

The intervention of the Commission through the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) in the emergency situation caused by floods in Mozambique is expected to continue for at least six months. Its activities are articulated through a two-phase strategy: the first phase is aimed in particular at providing shelter, water and sanitation and health care to the most vulnerable of the populations displaced by the flooding; the second phase (which in some cases will run concurrently with the first) aims at promoting the resettlement of these populations, notably through the provision of seeds and tools and small-scale rehabilitation of essential health infrastructure.

Commission partners were operational on the ground from the beginning of the crisis, and a senior specialist was deployed in Maputo in February 2000 to assess humanitarian needs and co-ordinate the Commission's relief and resettlement intervention strategy with the Institut national de gestion des catastrophes (INGC), the delegation and the Member States' missions on the spot. A second technical assistant has since been deployed in Mozambique to monitor the implementation of Commission-funded assistance and ensure co-ordination and a smooth handover to rehabilitation and development activities. Furthermore, an additional official will be recruited to the delegation to reinforce the operational implementation of the Commission's intervention in the reconstruction phase.

The Commission is very aware of the importance of a smooth transition from relief and resettlement to rehabilitation and development. A Mozambique task force set up to ensure close coordination between ECHO, Directorate general Development and the Exterior Relations common service is actively supporting the delegation in Maputo in the development of a coherent and comprehensive strategy for intervention. The identification of that strategy to be presented to a donors' conference to be convened at the end of April 2000 will be made on the basis of a global overview of the situation in the affected areas, and in accordance with the results of sectoral needs assessments currently taking place in Mozambique.

With regard to financial resources, 4,15 million of emergency funding has already been made available to Mozambique, with a decision for a further 5,58 million imminent. Moreover, the member responsible for development and humanitarian aid has promised an initial amount of 21 million additional funds for the rehabilitation phase, with the possibility of extra funding as the results of the needs assessments become clearer. The Commission will provide its funding to the rehabilitation requirements in strict coordination with the Member States and the other donors.

The Commission is also currently appraising, together with the government of Mozambique and the World Bank, the need for additional budget support for 2000 and 2001. Proposals intended to help the country to maintain macro-economic stability will be shortly presented to the Commission. Additional resources of up to 15 million could be made available in this regard.

Notwithstanding the above, the Commission is pressing forward with its normal development programme in Mozambique, from which no funds have been diverted. On the contrary, disbursements will be stepped up, reaching an estimated 150 million in 2000 as compared to 100 million in 1999.

The Commission's intervention in the relief and resettlement phase is expected to continue for at least six months. The Commission is now in the process of identifying its intervention strategy for the reconstruction phase, will be designed to link in with and take over from the relief operations in order to ensure uninterrupted assistance.