ReliefWeb

GABORONE, Botswana (PANA) - Botswana has offered 23 million pula (about five million US dollars) to help Zimbabwe and Mozambique cope with the effects of cyclone Eline.
The country's foreign minister, Lt. Gen. Mompati Merafhe, told parliament Monday that although Botswana has also been affected by the cyclone, heavy rains and the resultant floods, the magnitude of the problem in Zimbabwe and Mozambique are far worse.

While Zimbabwe will receive the assistance on commercial terms, Botswana's aid to Mozambique will be a humanitarian gesture to help with the ongoing rescue operations, he said.

Merafhe confirmed that Zimbabwe, whose fuel crisis has been worsened by the cyclone, approached Botswana for assistance.

He said that Harare's request included 20 million litres of fuel, 10 million litres of which will be diesel, five million litres of petrol and five million litres of Jet A1 fuel, all of which Botswana will supply on a line of credit.

Merafhe asserted that Botswana currently has the capacity to supply the required amounts of petrol and diesel but not aviation fuel.

However, he added that arrangements are being made to procure enough quantities of Jet A1 fuel to supply Zimbabwe.

He said Botswana will donate one million litres of fuel to Mozambique to assist in the ongoing rescue operations.

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