EU provides US $374,444 in aid for flood victims

Two months after Mauritania's government appealed for help, the EU has given the equivalent of some US $374,444 in humanitarian aid to flood victims in the Mauritanian regions of Trarza, Brakna and Gorgol, the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) said. It said the Spanish Red Cross and Mauritanian Red Crescent had distributed 500 family-size tents to the worst affected areas of these three regions. Meanwhile, the Italian Red Cross has contracted women's cooperatives in the southern areas of R'Kiz and Ouadane to manufacture 460 tents. In the capital, Nouakchott, 3,000 mosquito nets have been produced and 10,000 litres of bleach bought. In addition, ECHO said, at least 3,500 blankets, 3,500 mats and eight mt of seeds have been provided. Wells are being dug, while the Mauritanian Red Crescent has conducted public sensitisation campaigns on preventing and treating diarrhoeal diseases. Medicines requested by the Ministry of Health were delivered on 4 December.