[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 431 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                        March 14, 2000.
Whereas in February 2000, the southern Africa nations of Botswana, Madagascar, 
        Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe began to experience 
        severe flooding caused by days of heavy rain;
Whereas the Republic of Mozambique bore the brunt of the torrential rains and 
        experienced the worst flooding in 100 years;
Whereas roads, homes, bridges, the energy infrastructure, and crops were 
        destroyed;
Whereas many towns are without potable water and the corresponding public health 
        threat from water-borne diseases is severe;
Whereas on February 22, 2000, tropical cyclone Eline blew full force into 
        Mozambique, exacerbating an already terrible humanitarian crisis;
Whereas continued rainfall from swollen rivers in neighboring southern African 
        countries threatens to bring more flood waters into Mozambique;
Whereas thousands of Mozambicans have lost everything and are in desperate need 
        of water, food, and shelter;
Whereas in 1992 Mozambique ended a bloody 16 year civil war and has made 
        substantial progress on democratic freedoms and multi-party elections;
Whereas Mozambique is one of the world's poorest countries where 27 percent of 
        all babies born die before the age of 5;
Whereas the flooding has virtually wiped out the significant economic recovery 
        the Mozambican people have worked hard to achieve over the last 8 years;
Whereas large segments of Mozambican crops were spared from the cyclone and 
        flooding and could be utilized to feed needy citizens later this year;
Whereas the Government of Mozambique will require massive international 
        assistance over the next 90 days and the growing international relief 
        effort must remain on high alert for the next several weeks;
Whereas prior to the flood disaster, Mozambique was one of the first countries 
        to qualify for benefits under the World Bank/IMF Heavily Indebted Poor 
        Countries initiative; and
Whereas the total amount of Mozambique's external debt is $5.3 billion: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the Government of the Republic of South Africa 
        for its quick response and assistance to the Mozambican people;
            (2) commends the Government of the United Kingdom for 
        announcing debt cancellation for Mozambique so that precious 
        financial resources may be dedicated to the national relief and 
        recovery effort;
            (3) commends the Administration for its growing involvement 
        and leadership in coordinating America's disaster assistance 
        package to the Republic of Mozambique;
            (4) supports the efforts of the United States Government to 
        assist in coordinating international efforts to help the 
        Republic of Mozambique salvage what remains of this year's food 
        crops and to provide seeds for rural agricultural growers;
            (5) encourages the international community to continue to 
        provide emergency relief, airlift capacity, and other disaster 
        assistance to the Republic of Mozambique for the next 90 days;
            (6) urges the international community to take all necessary 
        steps to locate and demarcate areas that may now harbor semi-
        buoyant plastic land mines transported to new locations by the 
        flooding in Mozambique;
            (7) requests that the international community develop a 
        coordinated response to the Government of Mozambique's request 
        for recovery and reconstruction assistance for buildings and 
        transportation infrastructure;
            (8) encourages the international community to assist the 
        nations of southern Africa to increase their capacity to 
        respond to national emergencies and natural disasters; and
            (9) urges the International Monetary Fund and other 
        international creditors to fully accelerate debt reduction 
        efforts with respect to Mozambique's external debt in the 
        aftermath of the severe flooding.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.