In recent years, climate-induced natural disasters have surged in frequency and intensity, disproportionately affecting countries with limited resources for recovery and rebuilding. In 2024, severe monsoons caused unprecedented flooding across all 23 provinces of Chad, burst dams in northern Nigeria, and damaged ancient structures in Niger’s Agadez. The floods resulted in over 1460 deaths and affected over 8.5 million people. The 2010 Haiti earthquake resulted in economic damage of about 120% of Haiti’s GDP at the time. Cyclone Idai struck Southeast Africa in March 2019 the World Bank estimated the total economic losses at around $2 billion, with Mozambique bearing the brunt of the damage.
These events highlight the profound impact natural disasters have on developing countries. The costs associated with rebuilding and recovery can be overwhelming, underscoring the need for robust disaster preparedness, resilient infrastructure, rapid response and international support mechanisms to aid affected nations. Recognising this pressing issue, the 2025 G20 Summit has prioritized strengthening disaster resilience and response as a central theme, calling for enhanced global cooperation to scale up post-disaster reconstruction.
China, as one of Africa’s largest development partners, has stepped up its efforts to support the continent’s disaster resilience through financial aid, infrastructure development, technological innovation, and multilateral cooperation. After Cyclone Filipo devastated Mozambique in March 2024, China pledged $100 million in emergency relief to assist with housing reconstruction, food aid, and medical supplies. This followed a similar initiative in 2019 when China provided post-cyclone support after Cyclone Idai.
One of the major obstacles to post-disaster reconstruction in Africa is the high level of external debt many nations face. As one of the largest creditors to the Global South, China has provided debt relief, loan restructuring, and concessional financing to multiple nations struggling with the dual burden of disaster recovery and debt repayment. In 2022, China announced the cancellation of 23 interest-free loans owed by 17 African countries, many of which were struggling with both climate disasters and pandemic recovery.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, China participated in the G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI), which provided temporary debt relief to 73 low-income countries. While primarily focused on pandemic-related economic recovery, the initiative also freed up resources for disaster recovery efforts in vulnerable nations. Both Chad and Sudan—which suffered from severe flooding and drought—benefited from China’s participation in the DSSI, allowing them to allocate funds toward food security and emergency response programs.
Historically, countries have relied heavily on international emergency aid, which is often delayed, unpredictable, and insufficient to address urgent needs. Recognizing this issue, China has partnered with the African Union (AU) and the African Risk Capacity (ARC) to introduce disaster insurance schemes that provide financial payouts to countries immediately following extreme weather events, reducing dependence on emergency aid and reliance on external debt. In 2022, Malawi and Zambia suffered one of the worst droughts in recent history, severely impacting agricultural production and pushing millions towards food insecurity. Malawi received an immediate payout of $14.2 million from ARC’s insurance pool. China provided financial contributions to the ARC insurance pool and co-financed its “Extreme Climate Facility” which expands insurance coverage for climate-related disasters.
China has played a pivotal role not only in providing financial assistance to countries affected by extreme weather events but also in delivering comprehensive humanitarian aid reflecting its commitment to global resilience. Established in 2000, the China International Search and Rescue Team (CISAR) has been at the forefront of international disaster response. Comprising members from the China Earthquake Administration, the engineer corps of the 38th Group Army, and the General Hospital of the Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, CISAR has participated in over 20 international disaster relief missions. The team has been credited with saving 67 lives and assisting thousands of disaster victims globally. Notable deployments include responses to the 2003 Bam Earthquake in Iran, the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake, the 2010 Haiti Earthquake, and the 2015 Nepal Earthquake.
As climate-induced disasters intensify, the need for robust international collaboration and proactive resilience-building has never been greater. Through financial assistance, humanitarian aid, and diplomatic engagement, China has played a transformative role in strengthening global disaster response. The 2025 G20 Summit has underscored the urgency of scaling up post-disaster reconstruction efforts, and China’s initiatives provide a model for sustainable and inclusive disaster management. Moving forward, China’s continued commitment to global resilience will be instrumental in mitigating the impact of future disasters and ensuring a safer, more prepared world for all.
Thandiswa Losi is a freelance columnist
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