Launch ceremony held for China humanitarian assistance to Malawi

On Dec 11, 2019, the Chinese Embassy to Malawi held a launch ceremony for China humanitarian assistance to Malawi. 

The project is a cooperative venture between the Government of China and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) under the framework of the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund. It provides clean drinking water and emergency hygiene facilities to the families and children influenced by Cyclone Idai, carrying out children protection activities and helping Malawi to strengthen surveillance of post-disaster diseases in cyclone-affected areas. 

Liu Hongyang, Chinese ambassador to Malawi, Rudolf Schwenk, UNICEF Malawi representative and Dyce Nkhoma, deputy director of Disaster Response and Recovery in the Department of Disaster Management Affairs of Malawi, attended the ceremony.

Liu Hongyang (middle), Chinese ambassador to Malawi, attends the launch ceremony of China humanitarian assistance to Malawi. [Photo/fmprc.gov.cn]

Nkhoma expressed his gratitude for China's donation and food aid, and said that the cooperation between the Chinese government and UNICEF will further help the reconstruction of Malawi's households affected by the disaster. 

UNICEF Malawi Representative Rudolf Schwenk said that UNICEF is happy to cooperate with China under the framework of the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund, and hopes to improve local children's conditions and help them grow up healthily through effective cooperation between UNICEF and China. 

Liu Hongyang, Chinese ambassador to Malawi, said that the Chinese government expresses its deep sympathy for the people of Malawi who have suffered severe floods, and is willing to provide assistance to Malawi and also to cooperate with international organizations including UNICEF. With the passing of World Human Rights Day that falls on Dec 10 every year, the launch ceremony takes on extra meaning and shows the Chinese government's resolution to safeguard the development of human rights together with other countries and international organizations.