AmeriCares Addresses Urgent Health Crisis in Mozambique

AmeriCares Foundation
Monday, 10 April 2000

Over 80,000 pounds of relief supplies delivered to the flood-struck nation

Situation: Still recovering from floods that killed at least 700 people, Mozambique recently braced for a new cyclone, the third to target the nation and its island neighbor, Madagascar, this month. Heavy rains have continued to pound flood-ravaged Mozambique, where up to 300,000 people have been forced into makeshift refugee camps. In the aftermath of the disaster, flood survivors face the threat of malnutrition, dysentery, diarrhea, malaria, cholera and other life-threatening conditions. Thousands of children, many of whom were separated from their parents during the search and rescue, are still suffering from malnutrition. Emergency medical relief, food and other relief supplies are desperately needed.

Response: AmeriCares airlifted 81,000 pounds of emergency medicines, medical supplies, antibiotics, oral rehydration solutions, protein supplements, blankets and other relief materials to address the urgent health needs of flood survivors. The relief materials, which arrived in Maputo on Wednesday, March 15, were distributed to hospitals and field clinics in the regions most devastated by the floods. Additional relief materials will be delivered in the coming weeks. AmeriCares is working closely with the Ministry of Health in the former Portuguese colony to distribute the desperately-needed aid.

Responding to flood victims in Madagascar, AmeriCares recently shipped more than 16,000 pounds of cholera medicines and medical supplies. The relief materials, which departed from AmeriCares warehouse in Amsterdam, are scheduled to reach the island nation this week.

Credentials: AmeriCares is registered with the U.S. Agency for International Development (License #A0275), and is a licensed drug wholesaler. We are also a licensed DEA Exporter (License #RA0178170). AmeriCares solicits donations of medicines, medical supplies, and other relief materials from manufacturers, and delivers them quickly and reliably to indigenous health and welfare professionals in over 130 countries around the world. Financial contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations are used to defray the cost of AmeriCares' programs. Since 1982, AmeriCares has maintained an operating overhead of less than 2%.

AmeriCares is a nonprofit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization, which provides immediate response to emergency medical needs-and supports long-term healthcare programs-for all people around the world, irrespective of race, creed or political persuasion.

For more information, or to contact AmeriCares Foundation, see their website at: www.americares.org