UNHCR has full confidence in China, says representative in China

File picture of Sivanka Dhanapala, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Representative in China. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- As China is fighting against the novel coronavirus, Sivanka Dhanapala, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Representative in China, sent his wishes and expressed confidence in China's final victory.

"As we approach Yuanxiaojie (The Lantern Festival), the end of 15 days of the Spring Festival, our thoughts are with the Government and people of China," he said in a statement.

Doctor Fan Xiao from the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University tries an intercom at the Hongshan Gymnasium, a venue converted into a makeshift hospital to receive patients infected with the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 5, 2020. (Xinhua)

"China has done much to help refugees around the world, but is now facing daunting challenges of its own with the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and the unfortunate stigma that we have seen emerging."

"The UN Refugee Agency is all too familiar with the harm that stigma and discrimination can inflict. Our High Commissioner Filippo Grandi is watching the situation closely and strongly supports the courage and resilience of the Chinese people," said the UN official.

Medical staff cheer up for the cured patients at the Jiangjunshan section of the public health center for treatment in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Feb. 5, 2020. Three pneumonia patients infected with the novel coronavirus were cured and discharged from the hospital on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

"China is not alone. UNHCR has full confidence in the country as it deals with this crisis. Together with the rest of the United Nations, we stand firmly in solidarity with China through these difficult times," said Sivanka Dhanapala.■