The Chinese government on Tuesday provided emergency humanitarian aid to Madagascar, which was badly hit by a tropical cyclone earlier this month.  

The supplies include eight tons of rice, 300 blankets, 300 mosquito nets, 300 boxes of candles and 200 boxes of soap.

The Chinese government made the offer after the Indian Ocean island country was hit by the devastating cyclone earlier this month. At least 100 people were killed, 200 were missing and more than 200,000 homeless.

Madagascar now still faces the threat of starvation and the spread of diseases.

(Xinhua News Agency March 17, 2004)