Friday April 12, 2019
File photo shows rice assistance from China in Mogadishu, Somalia, Aug. 1, 2017. (Xinhua/Lyu Shuai)
SHANGHAI (Xinhua) -- Ships carrying thousands of tonnes of rice set off from Huangpu Port in Shanghai on Friday for Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan to help these countries cope with their food security crisis.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) China Office held a departure ceremony to mark China's food assistance to the African countries.
This is part of China's food assistance this year which also covers the Republic of Congo and Lesotho. The five countries are facing a range of issues that can impact food security, including armed conflict, climate-related disasters and sluggish economies. The assistance will mainly support displaced people and refugees, many of whom are women and children.
"China's support enables us to expand our work and to reach more people in urgent need of food assistance," Qu Sixi, representative of WFP China Office, said during the ceremony. "We hope to further strengthen our partnership with China and make joint efforts toward achieving zero hunger."
Said Jama Mire, charge d'affaires of Somali Embassy to China, also expressed his gratitude.
"We are very grateful for China's support for this food donation to Somalia and other African brothers," he said. "Also I would like to thank the World Food Programme for their great support to Somali people."
China's assistance enabled the WFP to purchase more than 8,700 tonnes of rice in China and other food worldwide, which will benefit about 300,000 vulnerable people in Somalia, South Sudan and the DRC.