Maravi

India to help Zambia in flood management

India to help Zambia in flood management
By Masuzyo Chakwe and Pulasta Dhar
Thursday May 15, 2008 [04:00]

INDIAN High Commissioner to Zambia River Onell Wallang yesterday disclosed that India will soon help Zambia with expertise in flood management. During a handover of commodities by several donors to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), High Commissioner Wallang said the problem of food security and floods was receiving the attention of the Indian government.

He said India would soon help Zambia with expertise and experience in flood management and protection of infrastructure from these devastations caused by mother nature.

However, High Commissioner Wallang said he was thankful that Zambia would have more than ample food stocks to take care of the country’s needs.

High Commissioner Walang said the people who had been affected by floods would need a lot of help to get through this period.

United States Ambassador to Zambia Carmen Martinez said the donation would replenish the DMMU’s stock supplies and enhance its capacity for rapid response to future disasters.

Botswana High Commissioner to Zambia Tuelonyana Ditlhabi Oliphant said the government and people of Botswana had followed the floods, which devastated the country and decided to help Zambia.

Tanzania Zambia Mafuta (TAZAMA) managing director Largeman Muzelenga pledged to continue helping when need arose.

In receiving the donation, Vice-President Rupiah Banda said Zambia appreciated the role India had increasingly assumed as an emerging economy.

“Being prone to disasters, India provided good lessons for Zambia and therefore, we intend to grow our relations in the area of disaster management and mitigation,” he said.

Vice-President Banda said from the time of independence, the United States government had been assisting Zambia and it was not surprising that they had helped in the time of the floods.

Vice-President Banda also said TAZAMA Pipeline Limited deserved special recognition for considering contributing to the welfare of flood disaster victims.

Labels: DMMU, FLOODS, INDIA

posted by MrK @ 3:38 AM