Chinese Embassy donates food to Afghan refugees

Ambassador Yao says will do more to assist people trapped in lockdown

ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador on Thursday handed over 1,500 food packs to Minister of State for SAFRON and Narcotics Affairs Shehryar Afridi as donation for the Afghan refugees trapped in camps due to lockdown situation amid coronavirus (Covid-18Pandemic.

The donation was made on the request of Afridi who has written letters to the United Nations and diplomatic missions based in federal capital, urging the prosperous world and the donors to help the Afghan refugees trapped in the lockdown situation.

“Pakistan’s role in helping the Afghan refugees would be long remembered,” said Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing while handing over the donation to Afridi.



He said that Pakistan was not only generously hosting millions of Afghans over the past four decades but it also was playing a key role in bringing peace and normalcy to war-torn Afghanistan.

“Today’s donation is a gesture to pay tribute to Pakistan’s generous support to Afghan refugees over four decades. We will do more,” he said.  He said China believes that Coronavirus is a temporary challenge and Pakistan would soon overcome it. “Whatever help we can make we are ready to help. Chinese nation was touched when Dr Alvi visited China amid epidemic.

Pakistan sent assistance to us when China was suffering. China and Pakistan are standing as responsible partners to regional and global challenges” the Chinese envoy said.

SAFRON Minister Afridi said that China has always been helping out the suffering humanity.

“The way China fought COVID-19 is exemplary for the whole world,” he added. Once the epidemic turned into pandemic, China again started to play leadership role in helping the world nations mitigate the disease.



“Pakistan has been hosting Afghan refugees for past 40 years despite our financial constraints. When it comes to the refugees, the sole objective was to facilitate the humanity. We have got around 2.8 million Afghans out of which 32 per cent has been living in 54 camps in across Pakistan”.

The minister said that 82 per cent refugees living in camps are daily wage employees who are trapped in lockdown and are struggling for survival. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 1^st, 2020.