BEIJING, Dec 24, 2002 (Xinhua via COMTEX)
-- The China Red Cross Society (CRCS) has collected more than 200 million
yuan (24 million US dollars) for flood relief this year, among which domestic
donations for the first time have exceeded overseas donations.
CRCS Vice-President Wang Lizhong said
at a press conference in Beijing Monday that the society had allocated
6,588 tons of food, more than 130,000 cotton padded quilts, 1,175 tents,
10 tons of water purificants and other essential items, which had benefited
more than 10 million people.
The CRCS has gained support from the General Administration of Customs, which donated confiscated items worth 100 million yuan (12million US dollars).
The CRCS will run a nationwide appeal to aid poor families from New Year's Day to the Spring Festival, China's traditional News Year's Day on the lunar calendar, which falls on Feb. 1, 2003.
The CRCS has held the appeal for the past five years, providing nearly 12 million yuan (1.45 million US dollars) altogether to 54,500 poor families.
So far this year, it has collected more than six million yuan (725,514 US dollars) in cash and goods.
Copyright 2002 XINHUA NEWS AGENCY.
Copyright (c) 2002 Comtex News Network
Received by NewsEdge Insight: 12/23/2002 20:17:50