This Information Bulletin is for information
only. The Federation is not seeking any funding or other assistance from
donors for this operation at this time but this may change depending on
circumstances.
The Situation
The Red Cross Society of China Headquarters has confirmed 262 people killed and 2,055 people injured in the earthquake that hit China's remote north western province, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region1, yesterday at 10:03am local time.
More than 3,000 houses and other buildings collapsed and 10,000 houses and buildings were damaged. 1500 soldiers are on site as part of the search and rescue effort. The Ministry of civil affairs has made available 6,000 tents and Xinjiang authorities have provided 2,000 tents and 1,500 quilts.
Red Cross/Red Crescent Action
The Red Cross team which was dispatched yesterday from the provincial capital, Urumqi, is due to arrive mid to late afternoon. They will be distributing 1,000 pieces of clothing and 2,000 quilts.
The International Federation China Reporting Delegate departed Beijing for Xinjiang with staff from the Red Cross Society of China Headquarters at 15.00 hours local time. The delegate is now in Xinjiang on the way to the affected site. Her job will be to assist with the Red Cross assessment. She is available for on the spot interviews (for details contact the Regional Information Delegate on +86 1350 1205972).
The Red Cross Society of China has released 30,000 USD from its own funds for relief and has launched a country-wide appeal to help the victims of the earthquake. Provincial China Red Cross branches have started to show their support. Shanghai Red Cross today donated 150,000 RMB (18,000 USD) for the purchase of relief items.
It is likely that the Red Cross Society of China will request international assistance.
The International Federation is on stand-by to provide any technical or financial support necessary.
For a full description of the National Society profile, see www.ifrc.org
For further details please contact
:
Richard Grove-Hills, Head of Regional Delegation, Beijing; Cell Phone +86
1350 120 5973 ; Fax +86 10 65 327 166.
Aurelia Balpe, Phone 41 22 7304352; Fax 41 22 733 0395; email aurelia.balpe@ifrc.org
All International Federation Operations seek to adhere to the Code of Conduct and are committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (SPHERE Project) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.
For support to or for further information concerning Federation operations in this or other countries, please access the Federation website at http://www.ifrc.org
For longer-term programmes, please refer to the Federation's Annual Appeal.
John HorekensDirector External Relations
Simon Missiri Head Asia Pacific
Footnote:
1Xinjiang is China's largest province, covering 1/6 of China. The population of the province is 17.2 million.