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South African Government to Sponsor Aid to Lebanon Pretoria
- The South African government will co-sponsor, together with the Gift of the
Givers and the Christian Maronite Church, a humanitarian aid flight to Lebanon
today Thursday 3 August 2006. The South African government will undertake
this initiative following a decision by President Thabo Mbeki at the Cabinet Lekgotla
that South Africa would provide humanitarian aid to Lebanon once it was ascertained
what was required. In this regard, the South African government will provide
R800 000 (eight hundred thousand rands) towards the cost of the relief aircraft
carrying 40 tons of relief supplies and R1.2 million (one point two million rands)
towards the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The
Non-Governmental Organisation, the Gift of the Givers, will provide 40 tons of
medical supplies and a team consisting of relief workers and representatives of
various non-governmental organisations. The South African government reiterates
its call for an unconditional ceasefire in Lebanon and the immediate opening of
the humanitarian corridors. The South African government also appeals to
the people of South Africa to continue to mobilise support for the people of Palestine
and Gaza at this time of human catastrophe. Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on
082 990 4853 Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001 3
August 2006 | 
