Ceremony held to hand over Chinese post-disaster reconstruction assistance project to Mozambique

A handover ceremony for a tropical cyclone post-disaster reconstruction project provided by the Chinese government to Mozambique was held simultaneously online and offline in its capital city of Maputo and the province of Sofala on Nov 10.

Chinese Ambassador to Mozambique Wang Hejun, Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Mozambique Francisco Roquette, the director of the Mozambique post-disaster reconstruction office and a representative of the Sofala provincial government attended the handover ceremony.

The director of the Mozambique post-disaster reconstruction office and the representative of the Sofala provincial government thanked the Chinese government for supporting their country in carrying out post-disaster reconstruction, which has greatly improved the living conditions of affected people and brought them hope.

Roquette said Tropical Cyclone Idei destroyed most of the infrastructure and houses in the north-central part of the country, affecting hundreds of thousands of people and killing hundreds.

The post-disaster reconstruction project implemented by the Chinese government, the Mozambican government and the UNDP have not only helped to rebuild schools and houses, but have also been of great significance in helping the Mozambican people receive education.

Roquette expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government for providing financial support to the UNDP for post-disaster reconstruction, and said the UNDP will continue to strengthen cooperation with China in priority areas of sustainable development in Mozambique.

Wang said China and Mozambique are good brothers and partners in difficulties, and the Chinese government and people feel the same way Mozambique does about the natural disasters, as well as the heavy casualties and property losses.

The Chinese government provided food and other relief materials and cash assistance to Mozambique and sent a 65-member professional rescue team to the country to carry out disaster relief, Wang said, adding that China delivered the Fengyun-2 meteorological satellite data receiving station to Mozambique and cooperated with four international organizations, including the UNDP, to deliver humanitarian aid.

Wang said China has always upheld the authority and status of the United Nations and its central role in international affairs. China has proposed the Global Development Initiative and the Initiative on Partnership for Africa's Development within the framework of the UN, and will continue to strengthen cooperation with the UN’s specialized agencies to promote international consensus-building, overcome global difficulties, accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and build a global community of development.

The post-disaster reconstruction project was undertaken with Chinese government financial support for the UNDP under the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund, aiming to repair eight schools, three markets and 17 houses in the affected areas.