China to provide South Sudan with financial, food aid amid famine

UNITED NATIONS: The Chinese government has decided to provide US$ 5 million to South Sudan through the World Food Programme to help the country better respond to famine, China’’s Xinhua news agency reported citing a Chinese envoy as saying on Tuesday.

Given the severity of famine facing South Sudan, China has also decided to provide 8,750 tonnes of food through bilateral channels to assist the country, said Wu Haitao, China’’s deputy permanent representative to the UN at a Security Council meeting.

Since July last year, the security, economic and humanitarian situation has worsened markedly and no part of the country is immune from conflict, David Shearer, special representative of UN Secretary- General in South Sudan briefed the council earlier.

After hearing Shearer’’s briefing, Wu said that “the political settlement is the only way out for the issue of South Sudan.”

He called on the international community to contribute to efforts for all parties in South Sudan to abandon military means, cease hostilities and immediately get back to the track of political settlement.

He said the council must encourage all parties in South Sudan to actively engage in the dialogue process to stay committed to peace, stability, and development. — Bernama