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Food, purified water, blankets, tents...
Relief goods that's worth 200-thousand U.S. dollars have been donated by the Chinese Embassy and Chinese community in Zimbabwe, to help those badly hit by Cyclone Idai.
Speaking at the handover ceremony of the goods, Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Guo Shaochun says China stands ready to support Zimbabwe to go through the difficult times.
Guo suggests, besides the emergency aid to help relieve the disaster triggered by cyclone Idai, more assistance is coming from China to help with Zimbabwe's development.
"In the next few days, the Chinese government will provide more assistance through official channels. We will donate funds and 10,165 tons of rice to the Zimbabwean people and drill 500 boreholes for Zimbabwe this year. We hope all these support will help Zimbabwean people to gain strength and confidence to overcome the difficulty."
Local groups such as the Chamber of Chinese Enterprises in Zimbabwe, the Chinese Federation of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe-China Business Association have contributed to the donations.
The SinoZim Wildlife Foundation, an organization dedicated to protecting wild animals in Zimbabwe, has also dispatched three inflatable rescue boats to the affected areas to help those who are still trapped.
Zimbabwe-China Business Association Vice President Li Manjuan says the Chinese community in Zimbabwe is eager to make their own contributions to the disaster relief efforts in spite of the economic hardship.
She says more relief goods are pouring in and will be delivered to the disaster-stricken areas in the coming days.
"The Chinese community, be it enterprises or individuals, is undergoing a hard time as the local economy is still sluggish. Yet they are actively making donations. We've collected several truckloads of goods in four days' time. And more donations are coming."
An official with Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs has expressed his gratitude for the help from China.
Permanent secretary Martin Rushwaya says the donations are due to relieve the sufferings of the victims.
"These donation of various assortments of food items and blankets by the Chinese embassy in conjunction with the Chinese business community will go a long way in alleviating the plight of the victims of the cyclone. As the saying goes: a friend in need is a friend indeed."
The first batch of relief goods has been delivered to the cyclone-affected areas.
Cyclone Idai has killed at least 98 people in Zimbabwe. Hundreds are still missing.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is visiting the worst-hit areas, leading the rescue operations.
For CRI, I'm Gao Junya reporting from Harare, Zimbabwe.
