Red Cross Society of China provides financial support to drought victims in Ethiopia

The Red Cross Society of China has provided financial donation to support drought victims in Ethiopia through the Red Cross Society of the East African country.

La Yifan, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, handed over the donation check to Firehiwot Worku, Secretary General of the Red Cross Society of Ethiopia, at a ceremony held on Thursday in the country's capital Addis Ababa.

In last November, the government of China donated 50 million Yuan (about 7.9 million U.S. dollars)food aid to the drought affected people in Ethiopia.

The Ambassador stated that Ethiopia and China are brotherly countries, and the Chinese people closely follow the drought situation in Ethiopia.

"And for that matter, after the initial contribution last November from my government with the amount of 50 million Yuan food aid to the Ethiopian people, the Red Cross Society of China would also like to show their compassion to the drought victims in Ethiopia," said the ambassador.

Stating that China and Ethiopia have been cooperating in different arenas, La said, "China will not be absent when our dear brothers, Ethiopians have encountered some temporary problem."

He also assured that "as the representative of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, I am going to continue to garner support from the Chinese government and the Chinese people to help Ethiopians to fight against the drought that you are experiencing for the moment."

Firehiwot Worku, Secretary General of the Red Cross Society of Ethiopia, has commended the Chinese government and people for the support they have been giving to Ethiopia.

Worku stated that the partnership between the Red Cross Societies of Ethiopia and China has been strengthening since a few years ago.

"Our partnership with the Red Cross Society of China has been strengthening since three years ago when we started Sino-African partnership," she said.

"Since then, we have been cooperating in terms of capacity building; they have contributed certain amount of products and also resources and donated ambulances and emergency materials,"she added.

The secretary general further stated that the Red Cross Society of Ethiopia has been mobilizing resources to support the drought victims in the cp, especially women and children, with contributions from local and international donors.

The Secretary General also recalled that the Ethiopian Red Cross Society met with the Chinese in Geneva and discussed the current situation of the country and the drought situation and what the Red Cross Society of Ethiopia was planning to do in supporting the humanitarian response.

"We appreciate this support, we hope our partnership will continue; we hope that you would also lobby on our side on our behalf with your government to support our efforts to fill gaps," said Firehiwot. Endit