FURTHER HEAVY RAIN HAS BROUGHT MORE FLOODING IN TUNISIA WHEN IT IS ESTIMATED SEVEN HUNDRED PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE COUNTRY'S WORST FLOODS FOR NEARLY A CENTURY. MEANWHILE, RELIEF AID IS FLOWING IN FROM NEIGHBOURING ARAB COUNTRIES, EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES AND REPAIR WORK IS ALREADY UNDER WAY.

AT HAMMAN LIF, IN NORTHERN TUNISIA NOT FAR FROM TUNIS, CHILDREN WERE EVACUATED BY LORRY AFTER TORRENTIAL RAIN CUT OFF SOME TOWNSHIPS. ON MONDAY ANOTHER DOWNPOUR SPREAD THE FLOODS TO THE CENTRAL EASTERN REGIONS. IT IS NOW ESTIMATED THAT 150,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LEFT HOMELESS. THE GOVERNMENT SAID THAT 20 PER CENT OF THE COUNTRY'S FARM ANIMALS HAVE BEEN LOST.

ALREADY WORK HAS STARTED ON RESTORING THE 125 MILES OF ROADWAY WHICH HAS BEEN DESTROYED. RELIEF AID IS ARRIVING FROM ABROAD AND AT LA GOULETTE, A PORT NEAR TUNISIA, A SPANISH SHIP ARRIVED THIS WEEK WITH LORRIES AND COLLAPSIBLE BRIDGES TO REPLACE THE 17 BRIDGES SWEPT AWAY IN TUNIS.