China provides food assistance to Namibia

The Chinese government held a distribution ceremony in Nkurenkuru marking provision of emergency food aid to Namibia on Dec 17.

The project is a cooperation project between the Chinese government and the World Food Programme under the framework of the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund, and aims to help Namibia cope with food shortages caused by continuing drought. 

Zhang Yiming, Chinese ambassador to Namibia (R) attends the food assistance ceremony on Dec 17 in Namibia. [Photo/cidca.gov.cn]

Zhang Yiming, Chinese ambassador to Namibia, said at the ceremony that the Chinese government has provided emergency humanitarian assistance to the people of Namibia through the Red Cross Society of China since the country announced in this May that it had entered a state of drought emergency. 

Meanwhile, the overseas Chinese in Namibia also generously donated 2 million Namibian dollars (approximately $140,000) for the relief of the local drought. All the donations demonstrate the profound friendship between the peoples of China and Namibia.

Local residents receive Chinese food assistance on Dec 17. [Photo/cidca.gov.cn]

The deputy director of office of the Premier of Namibia expressed gratitude for China’s assistance, and said he hopes the two countries will enhance cooperation in disaster risk management and related capabilities in order to better cope with natural disasters. 

Officials of China and Namibia inspect the food distribution on Dec 17, 2019.  [Photo/cidca.gov.cn]

The Representative of the World Food Programme to Namibia said that China has always been a key donor to the World Food Programme in the fight against hunger as well as one of the largest donors to southern Africa. China has contributed greatly to the eradication of hunger in the area.

The site of the Chinese food aid ceremony on Dec 17, 2019 [Photo/cidca.gov.cn]

Namibia has suffered from severe drought in recent years. According to official statistics, the drought has caused a food crisis for some 173,000 families in Namibia. This May, the President of Namibia declared a state of drought emergency throughout the country.