Appeal target: CHF 9,462,000 (USD 7,692,683 or EUR 5,710,320)

Appeal coverage: 26%

Appeal history:

- Launched on 30 July 2007 for CHF 9,462,000 for 12 months to assist 400,000 beneficiaries.

- Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF): CHF 240,000 (USD 199,465 or EUR 146,468) was initially allocated from the Federation's DREF to support the national society to respond.

Summary: In late May 2007, torrential rains and swelling rivers devastated more than 980 countries in 24 provinces,

In brief

Programmes summary: Two major events in 2008 had a dramatic affect on the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC): the devastating earthquake of 12 May and the Olympic and Paralympic Games held in Beijing in August and September. The International Federation provided continuous support to the relief and recovery efforts of the Red Cross Society of China by coordinating International Red Cross Red Crescent support, and launching an emergency appeal of CHF 167 million based on

Poznan, 10 December 2008-Weather-related natural disasters are now outstripping ones linked with earthquakes by an ever widening factor, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and insurers said today.

Thomas Loster, chair of Munich Re Foundation and a member of UNEP's Finance Initiative, said:" Since the 1980s, earthquakes have risen by around 50 per cent but weather-related hazards such major floods have increased by as much as 350 per cent and those from

On 13 September 2007, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Kimoon appointed Catherine Bragg of Canada as Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Ms. Bragg has been the Director-General of the Humanitarian Assistance, Peace and Security Programme in the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) since 2004. She is the Chair of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Donor Support Group

The People's Republic of China, with a population of 1.3 billion people, is by far the most populous country in the world, and has both one of the most dynamic and fastest growing economies, while at the same time very marked disparities in income distribution, health status and other vulnerability indicators. While many view China's hosting of the 2008 Olympics as a sign of its emergence onto the international scene, the people of China still continue to face many economic, environmental and health challenges that threaten their wellbeing.

Office Director, Li Haifeng, revealed the figure at a meeting honoring outstanding donations for earthquake relief as well as money sent in to help during the severe winter weather in south China at the beginning of 2008.

Apart from donations of cash and relief supplies, some overseas Chinese voluntarily rushed to the disaster zone

The total contribution for victims of the snowstorm in China, amounted to RM1,109,398.59. This contribution received from the public consisted of donation and collection from the local media, as follows;

i) Joint effort by the Ministry of Information and Sin Chew Jit Poh: -RM646,280.34

In response to appeals made by governments and international relief organisations, grants were disbursed for the early relief of victims in places outside Hong Kong hard-hit by major disasters.

For 2007-08, assistance was given through 22 relief projects operated by seven relief organisations to help needy

Hong Kong Red Cross is now focusing our work on recovery and rehabilitation. Over HKD40 million will be utilized for 10 worst-hit provinces and autonomous regions (including Hunan, Hubei,