Beijing (Sunatimes) China has donated $16 million to support drought and famine-relief operations in Somalia.

The U.N world Food Programme on Sunday said in a press release that this is the largest China’s single donation to Somalia drought and famine related crisis through the U.N agency.

The donation will be directly delivered to WFP’s food aid program in famine-hit Somalia, where about 1.5 million people are receiving emergency rations of food.

WFP Deputy Executive Director Amir Mahmoud Abdulla in the statement said China had emerged as an important donor for WFP programs around the world.

Somalia has been experiencing the most severe food crisis in African history, with about 3.6 million people in the country are at risk of starvation.

More than half of all Somali children are malnourished, with six infants dying from malnutrition every day.

By Muhiima Ahmed