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China - Assistance to flood-affected families

September 15, 2006

China--In July, Typhoon Belis (and resulting flooding) hit China's Hunan Province. According to the Hunan civil affairs department, as of July 21, 7.29 million people were affected, 346 were killed, 89 were missing, and 718,000 were displaced; 338,000 hectares of cropland were destroyed; 69,000 houses collapsed, and 110,000 houses were destroyed. In addition, highways, electric lines, irrigation works and other infrastructure were damaged. After the disaster, all levels of the civil affairs department in Hunan responded swiftly and transported rice, oil, and other relief materials to help the people in need. Due to the large scale of the disaster and the economic losses, funds for emergency aid and rehabilitation are in short supply.

Church World Service long-time partner The Amity Foundation and Jinde Charities (a Catholic NGO in China) have planned to provide one million Yuan (U.S.$126,000) to Hunan Province for emergency relief and reconstruction. The two organizations decided to designate these funds for Rucheng County and Suxian district in Chengzhou Prefecture, Leiyang city in Hengyang Prefecture, and Yongzhou prefecture, where the disaster was most severe.

Amity and Jinde Charities have given and distributed rice worth 550,000 Yuan (US$69,300) to the flood-affected in Leiyang city in Hengyang Prefecture; in Yongzhou Prefecture; and in Chenzhou Prefecture. On the morning of August 31, when a truck loaded with rice donated by these two organizations entered Sanhe Yao Village, Lingxiu townships, Chenzhou Prefecture, villagers came out spontaneously to welcome it. Organized by staff from the county and township, the entire distribution was carried out in an orderly manner. The relief was focused on people whose houses were seriously damaged, those whose agricultural production had suffered serious losses, and families that were out of work or that were caring for a disabled member. Each household received up to 60 kilograms of rice. It has been a month since the floods, and this assistance was timely, according to Amity.

There are still many challenges in the flood-affected areas, however. First, agricultural infrastructure was damaged. The floods damaged farmland, reservoirs, channels, water supplies, drainage systems, power plants, embankments and other facilities. These facilities are the basis of restoring agricultural production after the disaster. Second, the floods damaged a large number of houses. Repairing destroyed roads and rebuilding homes are the urgent desires of many people. However, the post-disaster reconstruction needs a large amount of money. The Amity Foundation and Jinde Charities are contacting other organizations in China and abroad for additional financial support for the start of reconstruction work after the floods.

Action by Churches Together, of which Church World Service is a member, is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.

Media Contact:
Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676;
Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526;

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