China donates 1 lakh food bags to Kenya

China has handed over the first batch of 100,000 bags of relief food to Kenya for distribution to its hunger-stricken citizens.

Speaking during the handover ceremony in Nairobi, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa on Wednesday said the consignment of rice is part of the 450,000 bags that Beijing pledged as food aid, Xinhua news agency reported.

"China has been sympathetic to the food shortage situation in Kenya that was occasioned by weather situation which has not been promising agriculturally. The Chinese people have always stood side by side with Kenyans and will always come to their aid when the need arises," Liu said.

The delivery is part of the 21,366 metric tonnes of food aid worth $22.5 million that will be distributed to the Kenyans.

The remaining batches of the food would arrive within the month of June, mid-July and the last batch will be delivered in August.

Josepheta Oyiela Mukobe, the Principal Secretary for the State Department of Special Programs, hailed the Chinese people for coming to the aid of the suffering Kenyans at a time when the drought is affecting a big number of the population.

"I am delighted to be here today to witness the handing over of humanitarian relief food from China to the Kenyan government. We are indeed humbled by the consideration the Chinese have shown towards our people," Mukobe said.

The drought has wiped out livestock feeds and affected milk production, triggered rise in price of basic food stuff, and impacted negatively on the sources of water, crop production and education.

--IANS

pgh/