China Aid: Lighting the way for 220,000 drought‑affected Zambians

"I've just received 80 kilograms of maize and 10 kg of beans. At least for now, my grandchildren and I have food to eat."

Sixty‑seven‑year‑old Edna heaved a sigh of relief when she collected her food ration.

The food Edna receives will sustain her family through the lean harvest season.

Persistent drought in western Zambia has wiped out crops and depleted household food stocks. Edna, who cares for five grandchildren on her own, constantly worried about where her family's next meal would come from.

Edna's story is far from unique. Hit by the El Nino phenomenon, Zambia has suffered one of its worst droughts in recent years, leaving countless households grappling with food shortages and livelihood hardships.

However, food assistance offered by the Chinese government helped Edna and her family weather the most difficult period.

Li Shuyin, deputy director-general of the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges, leads a delegation to inspect a food storage warehouse.

To help Zambia overcome food security challenges, the Chinese government has used its Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund to support the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in purchasing maize locally and delivering emergency food assistance to the most vulnerable households.

Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Han Jing visits a food distribution site.

During the project implementation, the WFP procured and distributed a total of 6,512 metric tons of food, offering food assistance to nearly 220,000 people in eight worst‑hit regions across southern and western Zambia. Thanks to an efficient local procurement mechanism, the total volume of food purchased was 15 percent more than originally planned within the allocated budget, reaching more than 30,000 additional beneficiaries and ensuring timely support for more drought‑stricken families.

The local procurement model not only delivers emergency food assistance to affected households but also boosts the local grain market, driving both humanitarian relief efforts and economic development.

Project monitoring results show that 87 percent of beneficiary households now have more regular and diverse diets, and 94 percent say the WFP's food assistance has improved their food security and nutritional status.

Behind these figures are the meals on the table for Edna and her family, bestowing on them hope and assurance to pull through tough times.

For nearly 220,000 Zambian beneficiaries, China's support has cushioned the blow of drought and reignited the confidence of many families to move forward.