China-sponsored fund assists Madagascar against tropical storms

A handover ceremony of food assistance to the people affected by the tropical storm in southern Madagascar was held in Tulia on Nov 25. The project, which was funded by China's Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund and jointly implemented by China and the World Food Program (WFP), will directly benefit nearly 50,000 local people affected by the storm. Chinese Ambassador to Madagascar Ji Ping, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Madagascar Abdou Dieng, and WFP Country Director in Madagascar Mamadou Mbaye attended and addressed the ceremony.

In his address, Mbaye said the shipment of nearly 1,600 tons of food was to be mainly distributed in the Atsimo-Andrefana and Menabe regions in southern Madagascar. He lauded the Chinese government's assistance to Madagascar at a time when the country's grain supply is scarce as an important manifestation of global solidarity in tackling the food crisis.