Beijing: The Chinese government has decided to provide 100 million yuan (around $14.5 million) of emergency humanitarian assistance, including 25,000 tents and other disaster relief materials urgently needed by flood-hit Pakistan, said Zheng Yuandong, an official with the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA).
Since mid-June 2022, Pakistan has been drenched by extreme monsoon rains that have led to the country’s worst flooding in a decade.
According to Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), floods have affected more than 33 million people and destroyed or damaged more than 1 million houses. More than 1,100 people have been killed by floodwaters that inundated tens of thousands of square kilometers of the country. After the floods struck, China announced to provide relief and cash assistance to Pakistan affected by flash floods and property destruction.
China’s Foreign Ministry said, Beijing has decided to “provide emergency humanitarian supplies, including 25,000 tents and other supplies in dire need to be delivered as soon as possible.” Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence to his Pakistani counterpart, Arif Alvi, over the severe floods hitting the country. China has also been sending relief goods for the last few days to help Pakistan in its efforts to facilitate the flood victims.
Chinese President Xi, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, expressed deep condolences over the victims and sincere sympathy to the bereaved families, injured and the people in the affected areas. Xi pointed out that as all-weather strategic cooperative partners and “ironclad” friends. China and Pakistan have been sharing weal and woe for a long time, reaching out to each other and responding to major challenges such as natural disasters side by side.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said, China will continue to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in disaster prevention and mitigation as well as global climate response and provide more assistance to Pakistan in its flood relief efforts and post disaster reconstruction. He added, “We will not forget that in the wake of the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, brotherly Pakistani people rushed to our assistance and sent all their tents in reserve to the earthquake-stricken area in China. Chinese people were deeply moved.” Now as the Pakistani people grapple with the floods, Chinese side is standing with them. Web Desk
