Drought-affected Kenyans receive 11K tonnes of rice from China

According to a Chinese envoy, China has donated 11,835 tonnes of rice to the drought victims in Kenya.

The Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, Wu Peng told journalists in Kenya's capital, Nairobi that the first batch has already been distributed and is currently benefiting the drought-affected people.

"The shipment for the second batch of 1,500 tonnes will start by the end of this month," Wu said during the Handover Ceremony of the China-aided project of emergency humanitarian rice donation to Kenya.

Wu added that the Chinese embassy is working closely with the government of Kenya to ensure quick transportation and efficient distribution of the more batches to come. He added that the government of China announced a 22 million dollars' worth of emergency humanitarian food aid to Kenya in 2017. Around 21,366 tonnes of rice were shipped to Kenya within one year and has supported millions of drought-affected people, as reported by Xinhua.

"Now, I am very glad to see that the project is officially completed and handed over," the Chinese envoy said. China hopes and believes that all the emergency food assistance provided by the Chinese side, according to Wu, will effectively alleviate the difficulties of Kenyan people and help the vulnerable rebuild their normal life.

Since Kenya achieved independence in 1963, China has provided finance to near about 100 projects through grants, interest-free loans and concessional loans, supporting the development of vast areas such as infrastructure, health, education, and agriculture. "We look forward to the day that the seeds grow into big trees that nourish Kenya's national development and China-Kenya relations," he added.

"Distribution of the rice together with other quantities of relief food ensured that no deaths were reported. The gesture of China is commended. However, we have been lucky in May as we have experienced some rain across the country that has brought some relief especially to the arid and semi-arid counties," he added, Xinhua noted.

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