China provides humanitarian aid to Zimbabwean refugee camp

A new batch of relief items and commodities from China has been distributed to the displaced trying to carve out a life in a refugee camp in Zimbabwe.

The humanitarian support from China is quite significant at a time when the camp is struggling with limited funds and resources.

"China is among those major countries that help us. We also get some non-food items like clothes and other items from China"

Zagarinho Ntamugabumwe is one of the 13-thousand-refugees at Tongogara Refugee Camp outside Chipinge, a small town located 450 km south-east of Zimbabwe's capital, Harare.

The Chinese Economic and Commercial Councilor in Zimbabwe Chen Ning (left) distributes food to a refugee in Zimbabwe's Tongogara Refugee Camp on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. [Photo: China Plus/Gao Junya]

The asylum-seeker from Rwanda, who has been living in the refugee camp for eight years, is among those who are benefiting from a 2 million US dollar fund offered by the Chinese government to ensure food security and access to non-food items for refugees in the camp.

In a ceremony to deliver core relief items to the refugees, Chinese Economic and Commercial Councilor in Zimbabwe Chen Ning said China shoulders its responsibility to work for the development and security of African people.

A refugee in Zimbabwe's Tongogara Refugee Camp gets food and blankets donated by China on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. [Photo: China Plus/Gao Junya]

"We are fully aware that long term stability, security, development and invigoration for Africa is not only the longing of the African people, it is also the responsibility of the international community. China stands ready to work with the international partners including WFP, UNHCR to support African states."

David Banda is the head of the field office for the Unites Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the Tongogara Refugee Camp. He says China's assistance comes at a critical time when the funding to the refugee camp is dwindling while the number of refugees is increasing.

"UNHCR is grateful to the People's Republic of China for the financial assistance they have provided to the refugee program in Zimbabwe. The 2 million US dollar financial support came at a time when UNHCR, its partners and the government of Zimbabwe were struggling to address basic essential needs of refugees due to limited financial and material resources."

Photo taken on November 20, 2018 shows loads of relief items from China stored in a warehouse to assist the refugees in Zimbabwe's Tongogara Refugee Camp. [Photo: China Plus/Gao Junya]

Figures suggest an average of 150 people seek asylum in the Tongogara Refugee Camp every month.

As of the end of October, the camp needed funding of 7.8 million US dollars, yet only 13 percent was funded.

Deputy Country Director Niels Balzer of the World Food Program is calling for more support for refugees and assistance programs.

"We must do more than simply shelter and feed people, but find long-term solutions that bring economic development, stability and peace. Support to refugees is not an end in itself. It's a core component of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals here in Zimbabwe and around the world."

The Tongogara Refugee Camp was established in 1984 and is the only refugee camp in Zimbabwe.