Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) Venezuela sending aid to Zimbabwe

Venezuela sending aid to Zimbabwe
Ralph Mutema
Sat, 03 Jan 2009 23:33:00 +0000

VENEZUELA is sending food, water and medicine to Zimbabwe to help combat the cholera epidemic that has claimed more than 1,500 lives, according to official UN statistics..

That country's Justice Minister Tarek El Aissami says Venezuela is sending a group of rescue workers with an initial 74 tons (67 metric tons) of humanitarian aid Friday night.

The minister told reporters that the initial help is modest but more aid will be disbursed once the rescue workers have given a report back to the country.

He said Venezuela wants to take action.

President Hugo Chavez has urged the international community to assist Zimbabwe.

Last month, Chavez expressed full support for President Robert Mugabe. He warned other countries not to use the health crisis to "politically destabilize" Zimbabwe's government.

Labels: VENEZUELA, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 5:10 PM