布莱尔首相演讲Mozambique.docVIP

TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTERS BROADCAST ON 3 MARCH 2000 The scenes this week from Mozambique have been incredibly moving. I dont suppose any of us will forget the extraordinary courage of the pregnant woman clambering for safety up a tree having to give birth there and then, fortunately mother and baby being winched by helicopter to safety minutes later. That mothers courage has been matched by similar acts of bravery, not just from the victims of the flood but from those trying to rescue them. Many have been saved. Many others are still in danger. These are the worst floods to have hit the area for half a century. Its believed that there are as many as 100,000 people there still stranded and in danger from the floodwaters -in trees, on roofs or crowded together without food or drinking water on the only high ground they can find. Around half a million people are believed to have lost everything they possessed. And its such a tragedy for Mozambique: a country that after many years of difficulty was finally struggling to get back on its feet again. In the light of this tragedy, the world has had to act quickly. And I believe we can be proud of the way that Britain and British people have reacted. And of the way that our Department for International Development has used its enormous expertise in order to do the very best it can to help. And were lucky that we have that expertise in dealing with disaster relief. And weve seen it this week in action. We chartered seven helicopters - five locally, two from the Ukraine. We are sending another four RAF helicopters of our own. 108 inflatable boats have been loaded onto a plane in Kent to fly immediately to the region. We have sent Land Rovers, satellite equipment, Royal National Lifeboat personnel and a fire brigade team. The total assistance -not just pledged but donated- from the UK government stands at ￡7.3m. And today we can do more. When the flood waters subside, the rebuilding process will have to begin q