CHURCH WORLD SERVICE EMERGENCY RESPONSE
OFFICE
Church World Service is the Humanitarian
Agency of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
35 Denominations & Communions Working Together to Meet Human Needs
SITUATION: Two earthquakes measuring 5.9 and 6.5 on the Richter Scale hit Dayao County and Yao An County in southwest China's Yunnan Province on January 14. At least five people were killed and more than 300 injured. More than 4,800 buildings -- many made of wood and brick -- collapsed.
Disaster survivors are facing freezing overnight temperatures, and several hundred tents have been sent up to help survivors, Reuters reports. Relief officials say that additional shelters are needed, as are drinking water, food, medicine and cotton quilts.
RESPONSE: The Hong Kong Christian Council is sending HK$100,000 from its Emergency Fund as part of an initial response, while the Amity Foundation is in the process of assessing the situation. The Action by Churches Together (ACT) International network expects to issue an appeal, and CWS will support that appeal with an amount to be determined.
Call the CWS HOTLINE for updates: (800) 297-1516, ext. 111.
For further information about disasters to which Church World Service is responding, contact CWS Emergency Response.
Telephone: (212) 870-3151
E-mail: chris@ncccusa.org
After-hours emergency pager: (800) 780-0853
Internet Web Site: http://www.ncccusa.org/CWS/emre