Saudi orders 40 mln dlrs flood aid to Sudan, Mauritania

August 17, 2007 (RIYADH) — Saudi King Abdullah on Friday ordered two aid packages worth 20 million dollars each be dispatched to Sudan and Mauritania to help the impoverished African countries hit by severe floods.

The two grants will aim to bring rapid relief to the stricken zones in cooperation with the Saudi Red Crescent and international humanitarian organisations, according to a royal court statement carried by SPA state news agency.

The King also ordered quick medical and food relief to be transferred by Saudi planes to the two countries, it said.

Early arrival of heavy rain in Sudan caused rivers in the country’s north and east to burst their banks, inundating villages, towns and farm land, and destroying tens of thousands of houses.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies last week more than doubled its Sudan floods appeal to almost 5.5 million Swiss francs (4.6 million dollars, 3.3 million euros) after flood waters rose above levels set in 1988.

Meanwhile, half of the 60,000 inhabitants of Titane, in southeastern Mauritania were affected when floods submerged the town’s northern half last week.

(AFP)