Violent rainstorms that lasted some 24 days in June have caused more than 300 casualties and widespread destruction in a total of 11 provinces and municipalities in the south and along the Huai and Yangtze rivers in China. The rainfall averaged between 12 and 24 inches and continues to fall in some of the affected region. According to reports Anhui, Jiangsu, Henan, Hunan, Hubei and Guizhou-economically poor and underdeveloped-- are affected most severely.

The flooding created thousands of fatal landslides in mountain areas while rapidly rising water along trunk and branch rivers collapsed dykes and overflowed embankments, submerging some low-lying villages in up to 13 feet of water.

Almost 2 million people have evacuated, with more than half currently displaced in relatives' homes and the rest in public holding facilities or poorly constructed, makeshift shelters on dykes. There is great concern and limited human resources to treat the injured and the sick. The most common ailments include diarrhea and other gastro-intestinal problems, skin infections, dehydration and exposure.

Due to the long period under water, production of rice (the primary food source) will either be reduced by half or lost completely in all affected areas. Reports indicate more than four million acres of crops have been destroyed. As a result, it is estimated that several million people will suffer a serious lack of food for 4 to 6 months.

In addition to a reported 650,000 destroyed homes, community facilities like village schools, clinics, bridges and irrigation facilities--have also been seriously damaged or destroyed.

Emergency Appeal

CWS is responding through the Amity Foundation, a long-time partner. In addition to helping meet the immediate needs of some 9,000 displaced families, (31,500 people) in Yunshang, Huai'an, and Xiangxi, Amity will also coordinate long-term rebuilding projects.

CWS is also sending an initial $25,000 in blanket funds to Amity Foundation to purchase blankets locally in China.

Objectives:

• To provide medicines for treatment of diarrhea and other gastro-intestinal problems, skin infections and other common communicable diseases.
• To provide 15 kilos of food rice to each of the 10,500 individuals in about 3,000 homeless, evacuated and severely affected families;
• To provide 2 quilts to each of the 9,000 homeless and evacuated families;
• To help repair houses for about 300 homeless families;
• To help rebuild houses for about 250 homeless families;
• To help rebuild 5 village schools;
• To help reconstruct 3 village irrigation facilities;

ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE

Emergency Assistance:

Food/rice: $114,407

Medicine: $36,320

Blankets: $91,525

TOTAL DIRECT ASSISTANCE: $ 242,252

Rehabilitation

Repair of Houses: (300 units) $43,854

Reconstruction of Houses: (250 units) $121,065

Reconstruction of schools: (5 units) $72,639

Reconstruction of irrigation facilities: (3 units) $21,792

TOTAL REHABILITATION ASSISTANCE: $259,080

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE: $30,659

TOTAL ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE: $531,991

Amity Foundation works in close co-operation with its local partners and will supervise and monitor all stages of assistance. All relief materials will be purchased locally.

CWS-ERP is seeking a total of $66,000 from its denominational members for this appeal, in addition to the $25,000 in CWS emergency blanket funds being sent to Amity. For more specific information, including budget information, contact CWS ERP. Or go to the ACT web site: www.act-intl.org

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE, 2003 China Flooding #6521 (Ref#: ASCN-32) P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN, 46515. Phone pledges or credit card donations: 1-800-297-1516.

Call the CWS HOTLINE for updates: (800) 297-1516.

For further information about disasters to which Church World Service is responding -- or to make a credit card contribution -- please visit the Church World Service Website at www.churchworldservice.org or phone (800) 297-1516. Contributions may be sent via regular mail to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN, 46515.

CWS Emergency Response Program special contacts: (212) 870-3151
International: dderr@churchworldservice.org
Domestic: lreedbrown@churchworldservice.org