HARARE, July 3-- China through the United Nation Development Program (UNDP) on Friday pledged an additional support of 2 million U.S. dollars in humanitarian assistance for the people affected by tropical Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe. The grant, which is being implemented under the just launched Post Disaster Restoration Assistance through UNDP and its partners will provide roofing materials to community housing and selected health and education facilities that were damaged by Cyclone Idai in eastern Zimbabwe's Chimanimani and Chipinge districts last March. Cyclone Idai was one of the worst tropical cyclones on record to hit southern Africa. The storm caused catastrophic damage in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi, leaving more than 1,300 people dead, and many more missing. In Zimbabwe, the cyclone killed at least 185 people and left 270,000 people in urgent need of humanitarian aid, according to the World Food Program. The recovery program, which will be implemented over a 12-month period, is funded by the Chinese government under the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund (SSCAF) which aims to support developing countries' implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Speaking at the official launch of the project on Post Disaster Recovery Assistance After Cyclone Idai, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Guo Shaochun said through the SSCAF that China remains committed to assisting the victims of Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe. |