Tsunami assistance-Global partners raise $11m |20 May 2005

The international community has so far raised a total of US$10.9 million in response to Seychelles’ appeal for assistance following the December 26 tsunami.

This is close to the total of US$11.5 million pledged, the principal secretary for Foreign Affairs Claude Morel said on Thursday.

He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was initially mandated to raise US$8.9 million from bilateral and multilateral donors to restore damaged infrastructure in the road sector, fisheries and agriculture as well as to assist some of the individuals affected by the disaster.

The figure was subsequently revised upward in conjunction with the relevant United Nations’ bodies to US$11.5 million, and the ministry is in contact with the agencies and countries who are yet to forward the remaining US$0.6 million.

Mr Morel said among the major donors have been the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Australia, New Zealand and the European Union.

Other funds came from countries like China, Japan, Belgium, Trinidad and Tobago as well as from the Food and Agricultural Organisation and the African Development Bank.

He said it appeared that the international community initially focused their attention on countries that required immediate assistance, but at the same time sent representatives to assess the damage here.

“They have finally focused their attention on us and the Government of Seychelles is very grateful,” he said, calling the response a remarkable display of solidarity by the international community.

Mr Morel pointed out that the money pledged will not go to government directly as cash, but “the aid will come in the form of projects that will be determined after discussions between the UN and the government as to how best to allocate the resources in the area of rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Appropriation of the funds received will begin soon on various projects identified, key among them the reconstruction of the bridge along Providence Highway opposite Cascade, which collapsed after it was hit by the tidal waves.

Mr Morel said that government initially meant to seek a loan to rebuild it, but the decision has been reviewed in the light of the resources that have been received as grants.

“We are in discussion with UNDP and the discussions are quite advanced. We should be having a consultant to examine the drawings and bids, then the project will be submitted to contractors.

“The indications are that if all goes according to plan, reconstruction of the bridge should begin by September,” he said.