Sir, - The Mozambique crisis and the slow response of the powerful nations is a shame and crime against humanity.
The plight of hundreds of thousands of people clinging to tops of trees, on rooftops, with nothing only the clothes on their backs, is heartbreaking. Up to Monday there were five helicopters desperately trying to rescue thousands. On Tuesday there were 10 helicopters. South Africa was the only country to come to the rescue. The sad fact is that if there were oil wells or valuable mineral resources the powerful countries would have dived in first in rescue attempts.
While technological advances are continuing at speed, with telecommunications bringing into our living rooms details of disasters literally as they unfold, humanity is not marching at the same speed. Ireland has given £400,000 to aid the victims, a truly meagre sum in comparison to the scale of a disaster.
Let us all rally and support Mozambique and be aware that though it may be too late for some, hundreds of thousands will need be resettled over the coming months. Their problems are only just beginning. - Yours, etc.,
Mary Savage, Pollerton, Carlow.