China donates 2 mln USD to WFP for Somalia aid

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The Chinese government has donated two million US dollars to the World Food Program (WFP) for its humanitarian work in Somalia, where a drought has deteriorated food security situation.

A ceremony was held in the Somali capital Mogadishu by the WFP Somalia on Tuesday to thank the Chinese government for the donation.

WFP Somalia Country Director Laurent Bukera said Somalia is facing "unpredictable weather shocks" that have caused a drought and affected harvests in many parts of the country.

He said the donation by China would be used to provide access to nutritious and curative food for malnourished children and mothers.

"We are honored to be in the company of China, which has an even longer history of partnership with Somalia and this contribution is evidence of these excellent ties," said Bukera.

Chinese ambassador to Somalia, Wei Hongtian, said at the ceremony: "China has been and will continue to be a firm partner and supporter to the Somali government and UN agencies including the WFP."

He said he hoped the donation would help those needy mothers and children.

Abdirashid Mohamed Hidig, State Minister of Interior and Federal Affairs of Somalia, expressed the appreciation to the Chinese government. The minister also noted the government and people of China had long supported Somalia's development.

A UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report issued in September says five million people in Somalia are not getting enough food, which is more than 40 percent of the country's population. Among them, over 300,000 children under five are acutely malnourished.

A security guard stands vigil outside a feeding center on August 16, 2011 in Mogadishu, Somalia/File Photo by Getty Images

However, the deadly conflict between Somali troops and al-Shabab fighters was continuing on Tuesday with at least ten people dead in the latest battle, initiated by a suicidal bomb near a police station in Afgoye, about 30 kilometers northwest of the capital Mogadishu.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)

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