wfn.org | [APD] ADRA to Assist 12,000 Earthquake Survivors in China

[Christian B. Schäffler <APD@stanet.ch>]

[APD] ADRA to Assist 12,000 Earthquake Survivors in China

>May 21, 2008

>Adventist Press Service [APD]

>Christian B. Schaeffler,

>Editor-in-chief

>Fax +41-61-261 61 18

><mailto:APD@stanet.ch> APD@stanet.ch

<http://www.stanet.ch/APD> http://www.stanet.ch/APD

>CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

ADRA to Assist 12,000 Earthquake Survivors in China

Beijing/China. [APD]   The Adventist Development and Relief Agency  (ADRA) is
stepping up its assistance to the survivors of the deadly 7.9-magnitude
earthquake that struck southwest China?s Sichuan Province on May 12,
providing food aid, water, and shelter materials for those in need.

ADRA?s emergency response efforts are centered in Jiulong town and
surrounding villages where approximately 12,000 people are expected to
receive direct assistance. ADRA?s emergency personnel, among them 40
volunteers, have already conducted the first distribution of relief  goods,
with the assistance of local authorities. So far, a total of five
distribution points are being planned. Relief supplies include tents,
tarpaulins, and individual food baskets, which contain 5.5 lbs of rice  (2.5
kg) 1.1 lbs of green beans (0.5 kg), 1.1 lbs of peanuts (0.5 kg), 1.5  lbs of
cereal (700 grams), and six 20.3 fl oz-bottles (600 ml) of water. Boxes  of
medical aid have also been distributed to the medical center of the town  of
Jiulong. More emergency supplies are on their way to the disaster site.

The current situation on the ground continues to be tense and uncertain  due
to ongoing aftershocks, the risk of epidemic, landslides, and heavy  rains.

The quake, which killed more than 32,400, has left 9,500 missing,  injured
220,000, and displaced 5.7 million, according to official government  reports
from May 18. The Sichuan earthquake hit southwestern China at 2:28 p.m.
local time (6:28 a.m. GMT) and was felt as far as Beijing and Bangkok,
Thailand. Several lower-scale earthquakes have followed since May 12,
according to the State Seismological Bureau of China, including more  than
2,300 aftershocks, three of them reaching magnitude 6. This disaster is
considered the worst earthquake since 1976 in which more than 240,000  people
died. Updates will be released as response efforts expand.

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