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Britain donates 1.4bn/- to famine kitty
2006-02-25 07:58:00
By Guardian Reporter
Britain will donate 1.4bn/- (sterling pounds 700,000) to support Tanzania in the fight against famine.
Speaking to the Prime Minister, Edward Lowassa, yesterday morning, the British High Commissioner to Tanzania, Dr Andrew Pocock, said the donation would go to people affected by famine.
’We are aware that more than 3.7 million Tanzanians are affected by drought, out of which 564,723 can’t afford to buy the food that is being distributed by your government. They need support to sail through this period,’ he said.
Dr Pocock, whose term has come to an end, made the remarks during a visit to the Primier to bid him farewell.
He said his government, through the Department for International Development (DfID), would provide $5 million in three years to assist the government in various development programmes.
Earlier, the Prime Minister told Dr Pocock that the government was facing several problems including famine, drought, power rationing as well as armyworms.
’If we miss the March long rains, hunger will rise,’ he said.
He thanked Dr Pocock for his government’s support to Tanzania during his tenure of office, especially in supporting the macroeconomic policies.
The envoy, accompanied by the Acting British High Commissioner,Tony Brennan and the Head of DfID Tanzania, David Stanton, said they were impressed with the way the government is operating.
’The speed with which you are moving is quite impressive.
The President’s visits to various ministries, your tours to famine and drought stricken areas prove how committed you are to serving Tanzanians,’ he said.
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