China donates 10 mln USD to tackle drought in Somalia

China on Wednesday granted the World Food Programme (WFP) 10 million U.S. dollars to bolster its humanitarian work in drought-stricken Somalia where more than 6 million people are food insecure.

WFP Country Director Laurent Bukera said the funds will allow the UN food agency to deploy emergency humanitarian assistance to more than 200,000 people.

"This grant will support Somalis and will allow WFP to deploy emergency assistance to more than 200,000 for probably up to four months assistance," Bukera said.

China also contributed 2 million U.S. dollars to WFP emergency response last year that helped it support close to 50,000 children and mothers to address malnutrition in the country, Bukera said.

He said WFP has continued to scale up its humanitarian activities in the Horn of Africa nation by reaching vulnerable people through its cash-based transfer program.

The Chinese Ambassador to Somalia Qin Jian hoped Somalia will overcome the natural disasters and rebuild their home, saying Beijing has long term support for Somalia.

"China and Somalia enjoy long term friendship. The diplomatic ties between brotherly states began in December in 1960, but relations between the two countries were there six hundred years ago," he said, adding China had carried out 89 projects including Benadir hospital, National Theater and Stadium Mogadishu between 1960 and 1991.

Somali Minister of Relief and Disaster Management, Maryam Qasim Ahmed thanked the Chinese government for the contribution towards alleviating the drought situation. Endit