One month on from the China earthquake
19 June 2008
On 12 May, Sichuan province in the south west of China was hit by the worst
earthquake that the country has seen in three decades. One month on, here is the
latest information about the situation on the ground, and about how DFID is
continuing to help people affected by the disaster.
Headlines
- DFID has provided a further £350,000 to help with the reconstruction
effort. Through the International Labour Organisation, DFID has provided
funds to help survivors of the earthquake rebuild their livelihoods by
providing training in starting their own businesses. This is based on a very
successful earlier cooperation with China which saw training rolled out
across 114 cities. It is expected that at least 1,000 entrepreneurs will
successfully restart their businesses, and a further 700 start new ones.
- The UK Government had earlier provided over £2 million towards the
relief effort.
- It is estimated that around 90,000 people were killed or are missing,
and 10 million have lost their homes, with a further 30 million suffering
dislocation of some kind.
- The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
launched an appeal on 15 May.
- The international response continues to be strong. Donations have now
topped US$1 billion. The European Commission has now committed 2 million
euros, and deployed a team to Chengdu on 18 May (they have now returned).
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DFID-backed medical team help in earthquake zone
A seven-person UK medical team backed by DFID arrived in Chengdu on 24 May to
help survivors of the Sichuan earthquake. RedR specialises in providing
personnel for disaster response operations and is funded with £500,000 per year
by DFID.
The team, led by Professor Dr Tony Redmond of Manchester University,
includes disaster medical specialists in areas including reconstructive surgery,
orthopaedic surgery, nursing, public health and emergency medicine.
The team of RedR volunteers travelled courtesy of Virgin and were being
hosted by the Sichuan authorities and Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The
Foreign Office and Chinese Embassy in London worked together to secure the
team's arrangements, with DFID's support. The team left China on 2 June.
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The
UK response
The £2 million assistance provided by the British Government towards
the relief effort comprised: a £1 million cash contribution to the China
Association for NGO Cooperation’s emergency appeal (spent on water, food,
shelter and medicines, and 2,400 tents purchased locally); and an additional
£1.2 million worth of material assistance in response to Chinese requests.
Over 5,000 further cold weather tents (enough to shelter 30,000 people) and nine
satellite phones have been sent out. They were flown into Chengdu between 22 and
31 May, and distributed very speedily to the affected areas.
DFID China is looking at the future of its development programmes in affected
areas. Proposals for further assistance are being considered, and will focus on
the provision of international specialist assistance.
The Chinese Government has been seeking to learn best international practice in
disaster management. For example, a team from the Chinese Embassy visited the
Cabinet Office’s civil contingencies unit for a briefing on UK procedures,
communications and legislation.
Many British firms and the public have made donations to the China earthquake
appeal.
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What happened?
An earthquake of 8.0 on the Richter scale hit Sichuan province in south west
China at 14:45 local time on 12 May. It is China’s worst earthquake since 1976.
The affected area is the size of Belgium.
- The epicentre was in Wenchuan county.
- In Beichuan county next to Wenchuan, 900 children were buried when a
school collapsed.
- It is thought that 80% of all buildings in Beichuan collapsed, including
seven other schools, one hospital and two chemical factories.
- Five million people also lost their homes, and officials estimate
rebuilding work will take at least three years.
- Chinese officials say that Beichuan will be rebuilt on a completely new
site.
- Aftershocks are continuing to cause damage (there have been reports of
another 400,000 houses destroyed). A large aftershock on 17 May caused
further damage.
- Flooding remains a serious risk.
- The focus of the response has now moved from rescue to rehabilitation
and reconstruction.
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