China: Inner Mongolia earthquake
An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter
Scale hit Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on 16 Aug 2003. Considered the
worst earthquake to strike Inner Mongolia in 700 years, it has caused at
least 4 deaths and more than 1,000 injuries. More than 50,000 houses have
collapsed, and over 80,000 houses have been seriously damaged. In addition,
more than 15,000 students have had to leave school due to the disaster.
The hardest hit areas were Bairin Zuoqi and Ar Horqin Qi. August is the autumn rainy season in Ke'erqin grasslands, and the temperature drops to less than 10 Celsius at night. Although people there have built temporary sheds with tree branches and sorghum stalk, many of them have become ill, as the rain and wind were leaking in. People are in urgent need of assistance so that they can resume their lives as well as rebuild their homes.
The hardest hit areas were Bairin Zuoqi and Ar Horqin Qi. August is the autumn rainy season in Ke'erqin grasslands, and the temperature drops to less than 10 Celsius at night. Although people there have built temporary sheds with tree branches and sorghum stalk, many of them have become ill, as the rain and wind were leaking in. People are in urgent need of assistance so that they can resume their lives as well as rebuild their homes.
Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation
Oxfam Hong Kong has initially committed a grant of about RMB800,000 to provide food and warm blankets to the victims after an assessment.