Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Qian Bo (front, 3rd R) poses for a photo with staff members from Fiji Red Cross Society in Suva, Fiji, Dec. 19, 2020. The Red Cross Society of China donated on Saturday 210,000 Fijian dollars (about 100,000 U.S. dollars) in cash to Fiji to help the island nation fight tropical cyclone Yasa which has killed four people and caused huge property damage. (Xinhua/Zhang Yongxing)
SUVA, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Red Cross Society of China donated on Saturday 210,000 Fijian dollars (about 100,000 U.S. dollars) in cash to Fiji to help the island nation fight tropical cyclone Yasa which has killed four people and caused huge property damage.
During the hand-over ceremony here on Saturday, on behalf of the Red Cross Society of China, Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Qian Bo handed over a cheque of the grant to Director-General of the Fiji Red Cross Society (FRCS) Ilisapeci Rokotunidau. The humanitarian emergency assistance is confirmed as the first foreign donation to the FRCS.
Qian highly commended that the Fijian government had lost no time in doing its utmost to protect the life of people and relieve the disaster, and the FRCS has also taken active measures in the frontline.
He said that the Chinese government and people are very sympathetic with the devastation incurred on the Fijian people by tropical cyclone Yasa.
"Our feelings are with those who lost their loved ones and suffered property damage and losses. We are confident that under the strong leadership of Fijian government, and with the help of the international community, the Fijian people will overcome difficulties and resume their normal life as soon as possible," the ambassador said.
Ilisapeci Rokotunidau thanked China for its generous and in-time assistance.
"We are so thankful for the Chinese government and the Red Cross Society of China for this donation because this donation is timely and it is the assistance we need in this difficult time when our nation suffers damage caused by tropical cyclone Yasa. For us, this donation is really helpful," Ilisapeci Rokotunidau told Xinhua.
Tropical cyclone Yasa battered Fiji from Thursday and it exited the island nation early Saturday.
The tropical cyclone season in the South Pacific region runs between November and April every year, and Fiji is expected to experience up to three tropical cyclones during the 2020/2021 cyclone season. Enditem
