STORY: WFP delivers China's aid to 70,000 food-insecure Afghans
DATELINE: July 19, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:42
LOCATION: Kabul
CATEGORY: SOCIETY
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of distribution of China-donated food aid in Kabul, Afghanistan
2. SOUNDBITE (English): LIU XUERONG, Head of Programme of WFP Afghanistan
 
STORYLINE:
 
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Afghanistan said on Monday that it has started distributing to locals a batch of food aid from China.
 
According to the WFP, the food aid, including wheat flour, yellow split peas, vegetable oil and salt, is expected to support 70,000 impoverished Afghan residents for two months in the war-ridden country.
 
WFP Afghanistan is facing a funding crisis this year, and China's aid is "very timely," said Liu Xuerong, head of the programme of WFP Afghanistan, adding that the office welcomes any form of contributions, either in kind or in cash, and is willing to develop cooperation with Chinese authorities in more fields, including training agricultural talents.
 
SOUNDBITE (English): LIU XUERONG, Head of Programme of WFP Afghanistan
"First of all, I would like to thank the Chinese government for the generous contribution to WFP. This enables us to assist over 70,000 people. They are the most food-insecure people in most parts of the country. I would like to say that this contribution is very timely. This is amid a time we are facing (a) funding crisis. Since the harsh winter is coming, we need to make sure that they have enough food stocks before the road is blocked."
 
According to WFP Afghanistan's Situation Report in June, 15.3 million people in Afghanistan are projected to be acutely food-insecure between May and October 2023.
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kabul.
(XHTV)