South Sudan received a donation of 8,808 tents from China on Wednesday to improve the living conditions of refugees and returnees from Sudan.
Speaking at the handover ceremony in Juba on Wednesday, Ma Qiang, the Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan, said the donation demonstrates the profound relationship between China and South Sudan.
“Today, China officially handed over 8,808 tents to South Sudan, hoping to bring hope and safety to our friends,” he stated. “China has provided emergency food assistance to South Sudan for many years, benefiting more than one million people.”
According to the envoy, some of the tents will be distributed to returnees and refugees to meet their urgent needs.
According to Amb. Qiang, China recognizes and commends South Sudan’s efforts in mediating the conflict in Sudan.
“China highly appreciates the mediation efforts by South Sudan and it is hoped that the Sudan crisis could be addressed peacefully at an early date, enabling the political transition of Sudan to be implemented smoothly,” he said.
For his part, Albino Akol Atak Mayom, South Sudan’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, said 60 percent of the tents will go to vulnerable people in the states and 40 percent will go to vulnerable people in Juba.
“Today is another great day that we are officially receiving donations from the Government of the People’s Republic of China. Last year in May, we received a donation of food items which benefited our returnees and IDPs,” he said. “Today we are receiving another relief item in terms of tents that will also help our returnees that are coming from Sudan and also our internally displaced people that have been affected by many humanitarian crises.”
The minister said the tents that have come in 35 containers will be distributed to 8,808 families.
According to reports, since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan, more than 460,000 people have crossed the border from the north; most of them are South Sudanese.