Details of a new relief programme totalling more than £5.5 million to help victims of the recent Hurricane Mitch in Central America are now being drawn up by European Union officials, Coventry and North Warwickshire MEP Christine Oddy learned today.

In a reply to a parliamentary question from Ms Oddy, the Commission said the aid package will focus mainly on water and sanitation, health and temporary shelter.

The relief programme will concentrate on Nicaragua and Honduras, where an office will be set up in the capital, Tegucigalpa, and a medical expert and water engineer will be joining the European Union's team already working there.

The aid package is in addition to the £16 million emergency relief and food aid package for the region which has already been announced. Another £5,750,000 is already earmarked to prepare and carry out a special rehabilitation programme.

Ms Oddy said:

"The top priority now is to rebuild the bridges that were destroyed by the hurricane so that food and other relief supplies can get through to the people who need it."