ARUSHA, Tanzania — The Chinese Embassy in Tanzania on Sept 15 handed over assorted food items, medicines and tents to Kagera earthquake victims.

“The donation came from various Chinese companies, the embassy and Chinese community,” said Zhang Biao, political counselor from the Chinese Embassy in Dar es Salaam while handing over the donation.

Major General Salum Kijuu, Kagera Regional Commissioner, commended the Chinese government for the support, which, according to him, is a great relief to the affected families.

Kijuu said that all the donation received will be distributed to the affected people while begging for more support to rebuild the region.

He also called upon those who will be able to start reconstructing their houses to get advice from construction experts before doing so to avoid future quake damages.

“As per expert’s reports, earthquake will continue to happen in Kagera even for the years to come because the region has been passed by the Rift Valley. What we need to do is to adhere to the geological expert advice especially in construction,” Kijuu noted.

An earthquake, measuring at a magnitude of 5.7 on the Richter scale, hit the Tanzania’s Kagera region on Sept 10. It left 17 people dead and over 200 injured, while thousands of houses were damaged.