Tsunami: Help for Africa

2005-01-10 21:36

Pretoria - Deputy foreign affairs minister Sue van der Merwe pledged on Monday to ensure African countries hit by the Indian Ocean tsunami are not overlooked for international assistance.

Van der Merwe spoke after a meeting in Pretoria with Seychelles foreign affairs minister Jeremie Bonnelame and other officials in Pretoria.

Killer waves spawned by a massive December 26 Indian Ocean earthquake struck as far away as Africa's eastern coastline.

More than 300 people were reported killed on the continent -298 in Somalia, 10 in Tanzania and one in Kenya.

No one died in the Seychelles, but Bonnelame estimated his country suffered losses of $30m in damage to its roads, bridges and ports.

"The Seychelles needs aid to rebuild its infrastructure, especially the fishing industry, which is central to our economy," he was quoted as saying.

The South African government has not promised direct assistance to the Seychelles.

But Van der Merwe said South Africa would use its participation in international relief efforts to ensure it and other stricken African nations are not forgotten.

- AP