The Chinese government is donating 800-thousand US dollars as emergency humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe in the wake of Cyclone Idai.
Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe, Guo Shaochun, says the 800-thousand US dollars in cash is going to the Zimbabwean government to help with its disaster relief and rebuilding efforts.
Speaking at a news conference at the Chinese embassy in Harare, Guo Shaochun suggests the assistance is proof of China's long-standing support of Zimbabwe.
"As a brother of Zimbabwe, China will always stand side-by-side with Zimbabwe at such a moment and will continue to help the Zimbabwean people to overcome difficulty within its ability."
Guo Shaochun says more assistance will also be made available to Zimbabwe, especially in the cyclone-ravaged portions of eastern Zimbabwe, through the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
"We will provide 10,165 tons of rice to the Zimbabwean people and drill another 500 boreholes for Zimbabwe this year. The Chinese medical team in Zimbabwe will visit the affected areas and bring medical supplies and carry out free treatment to the local people."
Ambassador Guo Shaochun notes the Chinese community in Zimbabwe is also stepping up to help the country.
"The Chinese community in Zimbabwe also took swift action and managed to mobilize supplies worth 310,000 dollars in very short time. On Wednesday, 11 trucks fully loaded with those supplies including maize, cooking oil, bottled water, tents, quilts, blankets and etc., arrived in disaster-stricken area and reached the people in bad need."
Latest figures show Cyclone Idai has left at least 139 people dead in Zimbabwe, with 189 still missing.
The powerful storm has also displaced over 4-thousand others.
Aid workers are warning that cyclone survivors are facing the threat of potentially-fatal disease outbreaks, including cholera and malaria, as Cyclone Idai has destroyed local water supplies and health care centers.
Zimbabwean authorities are putting a priority on rebuilding healthcare centers in a bid to limit the possibilities of a disease outbreak.
