China to provide emergency food assistance to drought-affected Afghans

Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Liu Jinsong (C-L) and Afghan state minister for disaster management and humanitarian affairs Najib Aqa Fahim attend a joint press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 7, 2018. Chinese embassy to Afghanistan announced Tuesday that China will provide rice and flour as emergency food assistance to drought-affected areas in the militancy-hit Afghanistan. (Xinhua/Dai He)

Chinese embassy to Afghanistan announced Tuesday that China will provide rice and flour as emergency food assistance to drought-affected areas in the militancy-hit Afghanistan.

"On behalf of the government of China and its people, I have the honor today to confirm that China will provide rice and flour to the government of Afghanistan to cope with the drought situation in the country," Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan Liu Jinsong said at a joint press conference here.

Flanked by Afghan state minister for disaster management and humanitarian affairs Najib Aqa Fahim, the ambassador stated that the Chinese government agreed to provide emergency relief supplies to the Afghan government and would also help to construct early flood warning system in the country.

Speaking at the conference, Fahim said that the drought has effected millions of Afghan people in more than 20 provinces.

"As the result of drought more than 1.4 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and we predict that around 3 million people will be in need of aid until the end of this year," the minister asserted.

Fahim also expressed gratitude to China for its cooperation, saying the people and government of Afghanistan are thankful to the People's Republic of China for its contribution towards rebuilding Afghanistan and supporting its people in the hour of need.