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 The BBC's Emily Buchanan reports"The relief effort is grinding into action"  real 28k  International development minister George Foulkes"We are now funding nine helicopters in Mozambique"  real 28kActor Bob Hoskins talks to the BBC"When is someone going to do something?" real 28k |
Cash pours in for floods appeal
Rescued after five days in a tree - but still at risk
Thousands of British television viewers have rushed to donate money to help the stranded victims of Mozambique's flooding.
More than £3m was pledged by 92,000 callers to the hotline in the first five hours after the first of a series of television appeals. The average donation was £34.
Donors were touched by the plight of the hundreds of thousands of people left homeless and stranded by the flood waters.
More than £3m was pledged by 92,000 callers to the hotline in the first five hours after the first of a series of television appeals. The average donation was £34.
Donors were touched by the plight of the hundreds of thousands of people left homeless and stranded by the flood waters.
We are engaged in a terrible race against time  |
Save the Children
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The devastation in the southern African country is feared to have killed at least 200 people.
And relief workers are warning that many people saved from the immediate threat of drowning are now at risk from diseases such as malaria or cholera.
Eleven of the biggest aid agencies joined forces to launch the massive appeal, under the Disasters Emergency Committee.
They say food, clean water, medicine and shelter are urgently needed.
Actor appeals
Actor Bob Hoskins fronted the television appeal, which was broadcast on all terrestrial TV channels on Thursday evening.
And relief workers are warning that many people saved from the immediate threat of drowning are now at risk from diseases such as malaria or cholera.
Eleven of the biggest aid agencies joined forces to launch the massive appeal, under the Disasters Emergency Committee.
They say food, clean water, medicine and shelter are urgently needed.
Actor appeals
Actor Bob Hoskins fronted the television appeal, which was broadcast on all terrestrial TV channels on Thursday evening.
 Victims need food as well as rescue
|
"They've got a few helicopters to move over a million people," he told BBC Radio Five Live.
"Surely we can do better than a few helicopters. That's a joke. What is needed is money, on the spot."
Lola Gostellow of Save the Children Fund said: "We are engaged in a terrible race against time.
"This race cannot be allowed to end in the survival of the fittest.
"We must look to the long and medium-term to put the country back on its feet.
"To do that we will need significant funds and we are appealing to the British public to help as much as they can."
Emergency teams
The British Red Cross, Actionaid, CAFOD, Oxfam, Christian Aid, Concern, Help the Aged, Merlin, Save the Children, Tearfund, and World Vision are all involved in the joint appeal.
"Surely we can do better than a few helicopters. That's a joke. What is needed is money, on the spot."
Lola Gostellow of Save the Children Fund said: "We are engaged in a terrible race against time.
"This race cannot be allowed to end in the survival of the fittest.
"We must look to the long and medium-term to put the country back on its feet.
"To do that we will need significant funds and we are appealing to the British public to help as much as they can."
Emergency teams
The British Red Cross, Actionaid, CAFOD, Oxfam, Christian Aid, Concern, Help the Aged, Merlin, Save the Children, Tearfund, and World Vision are all involved in the joint appeal.
The situation is still getting worse |
Martin Ogilvie, leading the British rescue operation
|
Meanwhile, UK helicopters, boats and aid workers are leaving for Mozambique to join the rescue operation.
The flights include emergency response team members, fire service rescue specialists and international rescue corps volunteers, along with Land Rovers and boats.
Martin Ogilvie, 28, from Horsham, West Sussex, who will lead the British rescue operation, said the aid will reach Mozambique at just the right time.
The flights include emergency response team members, fire service rescue specialists and international rescue corps volunteers, along with Land Rovers and boats.
Martin Ogilvie, 28, from Horsham, West Sussex, who will lead the British rescue operation, said the aid will reach Mozambique at just the right time.
 Thousands need airlifting
|
"It is not too little too late. The situation is still getting worse and this
aid will arrive just in time as the Zambesi is about to burst its banks and
there is a threat of another tornado hitting the country."
Four RAF Puma helicopters are also being flown to the region and are expected to stay for about two weeks.
Britain has committed £4.2m, to Mozambique, more than any other country.
The scale of the British response has been praised by one of the organisations leading the massive relief and rescue effort, the World Food Programme.
Donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee Mozambique Floods Appeal can be made on 0870 60 60 900.
Postal donations can be sent to The DEC Mozambique Floods Appeal, PO Box 999, London EC3A 9AA, with cheques payable to The DEC Mozambique Floods Appeal.
For more details visit the committee's website athttp://www.dec.org.uk
Four RAF Puma helicopters are also being flown to the region and are expected to stay for about two weeks.
Britain has committed £4.2m, to Mozambique, more than any other country.
The scale of the British response has been praised by one of the organisations leading the massive relief and rescue effort, the World Food Programme.
Donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee Mozambique Floods Appeal can be made on 0870 60 60 900.
Postal donations can be sent to The DEC Mozambique Floods Appeal, PO Box 999, London EC3A 9AA, with cheques payable to The DEC Mozambique Floods Appeal.
For more details visit the committee's website athttp://www.dec.org.uk
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