Africa-Press – Mozambique. The Chinese government on Thursday donated food products valued at about 20 million meticais (€269,000) for people displaced by armed violence in Cabo Delgado, in northern Mozambique, and promised to support reconstruction.
“The Chinese side is willing to participate in the integrated development of the north and encourage the active participation of Chinese companies in building infrastructure,” said Wang Hejum, China’s ambassador to Mozambique, during the ceremony to hand over the donation.
For the Mozambican government, the donation will “significantly alleviate the suffering” of the population displaced due to attacks by insurgent groups in that province and prove “the strength and vitality of cooperation relations” between the two countries.
“The donation will have a profound impact on our citizens who are faced with the arduous reality of seeking alternative means of survival,” said Manuel Gonçalves, Mozambique’s deputy minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.
Among the products purchased on the local market, 200 tonnes of rice, 300 tonnes of cornflour and 24,000 litres of cooking oil were delivered.
Cabo Delgado province is rich in natural gas but has been terrorised since 2017 by armed rebels, with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.
The conflict has led to more than 3,100 deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registration project, and more than 817,000 displaced people, according to Mozambican authorities.
Since July, an offensive by government troops with support from Rwanda, which was later joined by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), allowed for increased security, recovering several areas where there was rebel presence, including the town of Mocímboa da Praia, which had been occupied since August 2020.
For More News And Analysis About Mozambique Follow Africa-Press
