The Chinese government on Thursday handed over 3,000 tons of rice as emergency food aid to South Sudan. It said the 1,500 tons of the donation will go for emergency relief to help people affected by floods.

"On behalf of the people of South Sudan, we say thank for the rice donation," Peter Mayen Majongdit, South Sudan's Humanitarian Affairs Minister, said.

"I want to say our relations with China are unbreakable and we will continue to maintain this strong relationship in various areas," he added.

Manasseh Lomule, the chairperson of South Sudan's Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, said the Chinese food aid came at the right time when the country is battling severe disasters such as floods and food insecurity.

"The food donation we are receiving has come at a critical time in the history of our country when our country is affected by severe floods that have affected all the ten states and three administrative areas," Lomule said.

"People have been displaced, crops submerged underwater, livestock lost and property destroyed. People are heading for a serious food shortage," he added.

South Sudan's economy, which relies almost exclusively on oil revenues, has been battered by a drop in global crude prices.

The crisis in the world's youngest nation is further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and floods that have affected over 500,000 people nationwide.

"The Chinese government and people are very concerned about the recent floods in Unity, Jonglei and other states which affected a big population," said Hua Ning, Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan.