ONTARIO
Hope Among the Ruins
Credit: REUTERS/China Daily, courtesy www.alertnet.org
I was deployed to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, on May 27 to lead the International Red Cross response to the earthquake in China. I helped coordinate relief efforts and assess needs for the next stage of recovery and reconstruction.
The resilience of the human spirit that I witnessed in Sichuan is indescribable. Although this tragedy will be felt for years to come, communities are starting to rebuild.
When I first arrived I was immediately struck by the massive relief efforts already underway by the Chinese Red Cross Society. The Sichuan provincial Red Cross building was full of local Red Cross staff and volunteers already coordinating assistance. This dedicated team worked around the clock to help address the urgent needs of the millions affected by this disaster.
The earthquake devastated China’s Sichuan province on May 12, and the Red Cross acted immediately. The destruction was overwhelming, but the tireless efforts of over 180,000 local volunteers ensured that survivors received aid as quickly as possible.
The earthquake left over 69,000 people dead, hundreds of thousands injured, and more than 15 million homeless. The numbers are staggering, but thanks to the support of donors like you, the Red Cross has distributed relief supplies to over one million survivors.
Credit: Sho Huang/International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
When I first visited the town of Jiulong, where the Red Cross is working to provide clean drinking water, the devastation could be felt immediately. I visited the same town a few weeks later and found the rubble slowly being cleared and temporary shelters being built in its place. Among the ruins, hope for the future was slowly emerging.
Our recovery efforts will include the reconstruction of houses, schools and clinics, support to community-based health care, and economic support to those who lost their livelihoods.
Canadians can be proud that their donations are helping to provide relief to the millions affected by the earthquake in China. When immediate needs have been met, your gift will also help survivors rebuild their homes, their communities and their lives.
Thank you again for your support,
Yunhong Zhang
This page can be found online at: http://www.redcross.ca/main.asp?id=028985
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Charity Registration Number: 119219814RR0001
