HC Deb 22 January 2003 vol 398 c312W
Mrs. Spelman

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the recent floods in(a) Malawi and (b) Mozambique. [91456]

Clare Short

In Malawi the Humanitarian Working Group of the National Food Security Task Force is now assessing the overall extent and impact of the recent floods. My Department is working with partners in this working group to develop an appropriate response.

In Mozambique, damage caused by tropical cyclone Delfina in Zambezia and Nampula provinces is not thought to be as severe as initially anticipated. However more information is required as there is currently a lack of comprehensive data. Damage to the Nacala railway will impact on the Malawi food pipeline.