HARARE, March 31 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday handed over 1.06 million U.S. dollars to Zimbabwe to help hundreds of families affected by floods that hit the southern parts of the country in February.
Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Huang Ping said the friendship which exists between the two countries had spurred China to come to Zimbabwe's aid.
The Chinese government donated 1 million dollars while the Red Cross Society of China gave 50,000 dollars and the Chinese community in Zimbabwe chipped in with another 10,000 dollars.
The southern African country of Namibia also donated 1.2 million tins of canned fish to help avert an unfolding humanitarian crisis facing the nation.
Namibian ambassador to Zimbabwe Balbina des Pienaar said her government would also donate medical supplies on top of the canned fish, news agency New Ziana reported.
Zimbabwe's Acting Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Sydney Sekeramayi thanked the governments of China and Namibia for helping Zimbabwe during its time of need.
Heavy rains that were worsened by Cyclone Dineo last month left 271 people dead, another 128 injured and nearly 2,000 homeless in the country.
The deaths were caused by lightning strikes, drowning and landslides, according to the Civil Protection Unit, which added that nearly 2,600 homesteads were damaged in varying degrees.
The worst affected district was Tsholotsho (Matabeleland North Province) where a total of 859 people were left homeless and are currently in a transit camp and an additional 100 households remain at risk.
According to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority, over 100,000 people are without safe drinking water following the damage to water supply infrastructure.
President Robert Mugabe on March 2 declared a State of Flood Disaster, leading to the launching of a domestic and international appeal for nearly 189 million dollars to help victims and repair infrastructure such as homes, roads, bridges, dams, schools, water and sanitation.
