China earthquake - helping survivors through partners

A survivor of the China earthquake sits inside her tent in Xiange, Sichuan Province May 27, 2008 [REUTERS/Nicky Loh, courtesy www.alertnet.org]

Following the devastating earthquake that hit China on 12 May, CAFOD's partners have been responding to the needs of survivors

CAFOD's two local partners have organised volunteers to respond to the needs of people who have been affected by the disaster.

CAFOD has made a grant of £28,000 to one of its local partners who is responding in the affected area and is discussing additional grants to other local organisations.

The quake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale struck Wenchuan County in south-west China’s Sichuan Province.
According to official statistics, more than 68,000 people died in the earthquake, with another 20,000 missing and five million left homeless

Scale is staggering

CAFOD's local partners have been supplying medical appliances and medicines. In addition, medical volunteers are providing psychosocial counselling and organising trainings on disease prevention.

Tony Hardiment, CAFOD's China Programme Manager, says: "The scale of this disaster is staggering; we are working with partners on the ground to do what we can to help.

"Our thoughts are with the people and families affected by the quake."

Meanwhile, Pope Benedict XVI launched an appeal for "the people of Sichuan and adjoining provinces in China, so harshly affected by the earthquake which has provoked serious loss of human life, left large numbers missing and caused incalculable damages."

The Pope asked the Lord "to give support to all those involved in meeting the immediate needs" of the victims.

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