To assist South Asia with post disaster response due to the recent flooding and population displacements in the region, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) of the People’s Republic of China has partnered with the United Nations Development programme (UNDP), to provide US $12 million to support early recovery efforts in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal.
In Bangladesh, emergency shelters and women’s health packages will be provided for individuals and communities affected by floods, and medical support will be given to the Rohingya refugees. Development assistance in Pakistan will concentrate on the restoration of livelihoods and the distribution of supplementary food, essential household items, and school furniture. In Nepal, more than 144,000 people (24,000 households) affected by the floods will receive essential non-food item kits to assist people to gradually rebuild their lives.
This is not the first time China has assisted with disaster relief and restoration. In October this year, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) provided funds for hurricane Maria and Irma relief efforts in the Caribbean. Over the past decade China has been increasingly engaging in the South-South Cooperation Initiative to support other developing countries with sustainable development and to advance the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. After decades of dealing with frequent natural disasters and working on its domestic disaster relief capacities, China is now sharing its experiences and solutions with the world.
Since the signing of the agreement on South-South cooperation in 2010, UNDP and China have jointly implemented projects in Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Malawi, Ghana, and Zambia. These projects have facilitated development experience sharing and technical knowledge exchange. With the upcoming projects in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal, UNDP and China aim to deliver solid results in disaster management and early recovery.