China's largest networking and telecommunications equipment supplier, Huawei Technologies, on Thursday donated two tonnes of relief food to drought-stricken victims of Turkana district in northern Kenya.

The donation comprising of bales of maize meal, Kenya's staple food, will be distributed to 440 households in the affected regions.

Making the donation at the offices of Kenya Red Cross Society in Nairobi, the Deputy Director of Huawei Technologies Kenya Jerry Xie said the donation was the beginning of their commitment to assist victims of natural disasters in the country.

The director said the gesture was Huawei's response to an appeal the society sent out for assistance to alleviate the suffering of close to 30 million Kenyans, out of which 10 million could not make it without external assistance.

"From what I have been briefed, Kenya Red Cross and their counterparts in China have a close working relationship that culminated into a visit by the Secretary General of the Kenya Red Cross Society Abbas Gulet to China in 2007," said Xie.

"I hope this donation will further cement the relationship between the two societies," he said.

The food aid was received by Head of Disaster Management of the Kenya Red Cross Abdi Shakur who said the donation will go a long way into easing the suffering of many families in the affected regions.

"Our personnel are on the ground and have already registered the deserving cases. This food will leave as soon as tomorrow (Friday) to its destination. It is enough to feed the affected for one month," said Shakur.

The Deputy Director was accompanied by Huawei's Head of Marketing Department, East Africa Gavin Wang and Director, Public Relations Department, East Africa Fu Bo.

(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2010)