HRIC Action Bulletin: The Earthquake in China

An 8.0^[1] magnitude earthquake struck southwestern China at 2:28 p.m. local time on May 12, the worst quake to hit the country in 30 years. The epicenter of the quake was in Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province, but among the worst-hit counties, 21 are in Sichuan, eight in Shaanxi Province, and five in Gansu Province. Tremors were felt as far as Shanghai and Beijing to the northeast and in Burma and Thailand to the south. Thousands of aftershocks have since rocked the area, creating new damage, slowing rescue efforts, and keeping the population in a constant state of anxiety.

In their most recent estimates, the Chinese authorities say that more than 51,000 were killed while more than 29,000 are missing. More than 247,000 have been injured.^[2]

The dead include a high percentage of children, including thousands of children who were crushed to death when their school buildings collapsed. While thousands of people are still buried in the rubble, hopes of finding additional survivors are fading now that it's been over a week since the earthquake struck.

Some 4.8 million people lost their homes in Sichuan and seven other affected provinces, including Gansu, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Shanxi, Guizhou, and Hubei, as well as in the municipality of Chongqing.

The earthquake also damaged a number of dams, both large and small, creating an additional risk of flooding. Huge tracts of farmland have been destroyed, threatening food supplies in the affected areas both in the immediate future and over the long term.

Rescue and assistance efforts have been complicated by the extensive devastation. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that landslides triggered by the quake and aftershocks have blocked roads and railways and also created more than 30 lakes. Some of these lakes are now threatening to flood areas already heavily damaged by the quake, further slowing rescue and relief efforts.

China sent some 130,000 army and paramilitary troops to the area by May 15 to carry out rescue and aid operations in the quake-hit areas, according to the government.^[3] Premier Wen Jiabao went immediately to the earthquake zone, while President Hu Jintao took a three-day tour of affected areas a few days after the disaster. In the glare of the international spotlight over the pace of rescue operations, Hu encouraged rescuers to use "every available means" to quickly reach every populated area touched by the quake (May 18). A day later, Wen ordered troops to reach all affected villages by Tuesday, May 20.

The government scrambled to set up temporary housing for those victims left without shelter. As of May 22, 403,340 tents, 2.3 million cotton-padded quilts, and 3.05 million articles of clothing had been sent to the survivors; in addition, 384,000 tons of wheat and rice were being sent to the region.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Finance also announced that they planned to provide homeless quake victims without incomes with a daily subsidy of ten yuan and 500 grams of food for three months, beginning in late May. Orphans, widowed senior citizens with no children, and disabled persons who lost relatives would receive another monthly subsidy of 600 yuan for three months. The ministries have also pledged 5,000 yuan in compensation for family members of the dead.^[4]

The State Council ordered a three-day national period of mourning in remembrance of those who died, starting with a moment of silence at 2:28 p.m. on May 19. Flags were lowered to half-mast, and there was a media blackout of entertainment-related news and suspension of entertainment activities.

Initially, there was greater media access: despite the fact that all but four official news outlets were officially barred from the quake area, many journalists went anyway and reported in detail about the situation on the ground. Within days, however, the state was again trying to assert control over domestic news coverage of the disaster by barring reporting on controversial topics such as corruption and whether officials had advance knowledge of the quake. As a result, more of the domestic reporting has focused on human interest stories and avoided difficult systemic and broad social issues.

In response to offers of assistance, the government has said that international personnel would not be generally invited in, although some medical and rescue teams have been welcomed on a case-by-case basis. Medical or rescue teams have been sent from many countries, including Japan, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. These and many other countries, international aid agencies, and businesses have also donated relief materials, medical equipment, food items, and other needed supplies.

China's National Audit Office pledged last week that it would audit the use of donated cash and goods, to ensure they were well managed and not wasted.

• "Why were the early concerns voiced about the earthquake forecast suppressed and ignored?"
  
  

• "Why was the army so slow to mobilize, and unable to reach the epicenter of the earthquake, causing Wen Jiabao to get angry?"
  
  
• "Why did the government refuse international rescue crews during the prime rescue period?"
  
  
• "Will the massive amounts of disaster relief funds be embezzled or diverted? How is the government managing the distribution of cash donations and the supplies?"
  
  
• "Why doesn't the government save people as quickly as they arrest people?"
  
  
• "Why was the decision to have a national day of mourning, which would allow all people to express their sympathies and demonstrate respect for the dead, so slow in coming?"
  
  
• "Why did they fail to immediately adjust the plans for the torch relay?"
  
  

• "Why were so many of the fallen structures schools? Why were so many of the dead elementary and middle school students?"
  
  
• "Why was the magnitude of the earthquake repeatedly changed?"
  
  
• "Have there been attempts to conceal a nuclear leakage, or other problems such as water pollution or an epidemic resulting from the grave disaster situation?"
  
  
• "Why did the official media under-report/conceal the true situation of the disaster and that of the victims, focusing instead on singing praises?"
  
  

In an unprecedented outpouring of concern, thousands of Chinese citizens have acted on their own, outside of official channels, to donate money and relief supplies to the needy, and to head for the quake region to help in whatever way they can. The authorities have warned volunteers to stay out of the earthquake zone for reasons of safety, but thousands are already there.

If you belong to a professional association, organize a group effort to provide needed services or resources.

If you have specialized skills, such as trauma specialists, social workers, or medical workers, you can contact organizations on the ground, such as Half the Sky Foundation, to see whether you can volunteer or assist in other ways.

If you are in China and would like to donate blood, contact your local Red Cross center.

The Chinese government has released lists of urgently-needed medical supplies, rescue equipment, and other items for earthquake relief. Contact your local Chinese consulate for additional information if you can assist. (For contact information, see: http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zwjg.)

Here are some organizations that are collecting donations for earthquake relief and have provided some background on what they are currently doing in China. Human Rights in China is unable to verify these organizations' statements.

Amity Foundation
http://www.amityfoundation.org
+86-25-8326-0855

The Nanjing-based Amity Foundation is "an independent Chinese voluntary organization that was created in 1985 on the initiative of Chinese Christians to promote education, social services, health, and rural development from China's coastal provinces in the east to the minority areas of the west." Amity has sent relief workers and other staff to visit villages in the earthquake zone to assess the needs of survivors. Currently, it is dedicating additional relief work in the villages of Mianzhu and Shifang. The Foundation is also recruiting volunteers specializing in counseling at headquarters and preparing them to go to Sichuan.

AmeriCares
http://www.americares.org
1-800-486-HELP

AmeriCares is a U.S.-based international relief organization. AmeriCares emergency response experts are in China meeting with local NGOs to assess health care needs and coordinate its emergency response with local and international non-profits. AmeriCares has one staff member on the ground and more arriving soon.

Doctors Without Borders
http://www.msf.org
+41-22-849-84-00

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) "is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides emergency medical assistance to populations in danger in more than 70 countries." MSF teams have been working with the Chinese Red Cross and other local health authorities to assess needs in the affected area. It has donated tents and other supplies, and MSF doctors are currently working on the ground, treating earthquake victims.

Give2Asia
http://www.give2asia.org
1-415-743-3336

Give2Asia is a project of the Asia Foundation, and its mission is to "facilitate and encourage charitable giving to meet needs in Asia by providing personalized services to donors and recipients." Give2Asia is supporting relief efforts by local Chinese organizations for education reconstruction, humanitarian relief, medical support, reconstruction of housing, agricultural activity, and small business recovery. Its Beijing program director is currently identifying local NGOs and government groups with strong reputations and the capability to implement relief and recovery projects.

Half the Sky Foundation
http://www.halfthesky.org
1-510-525-3377
+852 2520-5266 (Hong Kong)

Half the Sky (HTS) runs programs at 36 welfare institutions throughout China and provides homes for orphaned or special-needs children, and has offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, and the United States. Many HTS centers were inside the earthquake zone, and they have accepted numerous earthquake orphans. In cooperation with China's Ministry of Civil Affairs, Half the Sky has created the HTS Children's Earthquake Fund to provide emergency shelter, food, and medical care for children orphaned or separated from their families, as well as temporary or long-term foster or institutional care. To see ways you can volunteer your services or donate goods, see their website.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
http://www.ifrc.org/what/disasters/response/sichuan-earthquake
+41-22-730-4222
+852 2802-0021 (Hong Kong)

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, an international relief agency, launched the Emergency Appeal on May 15, 2008, for US$19.3 million for 12 months to assist 100,000 beneficiaries. Additionally, 250,000 Swiss francs were allocated from the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to support the Red Cross Society of China's response to the earthquake. The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) headquarters, along with its Sichuan branch and many other provincial branches of RCSC, have been providing non-stop assistance to those in the affected areas.

Mercy Corps
http://www.mercycorps.org
1-888-889-7146

Mercy Corps is a U.S.-based organization that "focuses on disaster response, sustainable economic development, health services, and emergency and natural disaster relief." Mercy Corps has delivered 22 truckloads of critical supplies to displaced families in affected areas. Mercy Corps continues to assess urgent needs, and is working to help children recover from the trauma they've experienced.

Oxfam
http://www.oxfam.org/en/programs/emergencies/china_earthquake
+852-2520-2525

Oxfam is a "confederation of 13 organizations working together with over 3,000 partners in more than 100 countries to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice." Oxfam is responding to the earthquake through Oxfam Hong Kong, which has allocated US$1.5 million for emergency relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction work. Teams are currently at work in four locations in Sichuan and Gansu provinces, focusing on assisting survivors in remote rural areas.

The Salvation Army
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org
1-800-SAL-ARMY
+852 2783-2333 (Hong Kong)

The Salvation Army in the United States provides the "broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children." It has launched an appeal to raise money for the long-term response to the earthquake. The organization currently has personnel serving cities affected by the disaster and is responding to the immediate needs of survivors. The Salvation Army has approved US$30,000 to assist in the response, but more funding is needed to provide for food, tents, clothing, and other emergency supplies.

Save the Children
http://www.savethechildren.org
1-800-728-3843

Save the Children, a global humanitarian and relief organization, is preparing to establish child-friendly spaces and temporary classrooms for primary schools in earthquake-affected communities, following an assessment conducted last week by its emergency response teams in Sichuan Province. Save the Children is also setting up temporary centers for children, parents, and caregivers. The organization has worked in China since 1984 and currently has 150 national staff (almost all local nationals) in 23 provinces.

Sowers Action
http://www.sowers.org.hk/search/rd?id=2402
+852 8206-9090 / +852 2597-4739

Sowers Action is a Hong Kong-based organization that funds education for children in China. Since its establishment in 1992, it has built more than 700 schools and dormitories, and sponsored more than 240,000 rural children’s school fees and other related expenses. Sowers Action aims to rebuild schools and temporary schooling facilities at disaster-affected areas.

World Vision
http://www.worldvision.org
1-888-56-CHILD
+852 2394-2394 (Hong Kong)

World Vision, a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide, has set up a China Earthquake Relief fund to accept donations.