The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has begun the process of supporting the long-term recovery of those affected by the devastating May 12 earthquake. With an estimated magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter scale the earthquake which occurred 1,600 kilometers from Beijing left 15 million people displaced and 5 million without shelter.
Some 35,000 dedicated staff and volunteers from the Red Cross Society of China have been working with rescue and medical teams to distribute tents, food, water, clothes, medicines and other vital services to those in urgent need.
"We are helping people in a practical sense to regain their resilience after this huge disaster, but the work of the International Federation has also demonstrated the ongoing solidarity and support of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement" said Carl Naucler, Head of the Federation's East Asia Regional Delegation in Beijing. "The support we have provided, has been essential, but much work remains to be done."
With one hundred days having now passed since the devastating earthquake, the IFRC has successfully supplied 100,000 tents to the three worst-affected provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi. In addition, the provision of clean drinking water and sanitation facilities has significantly helped prevent the spread of disease with some 25'000 individuals helped on a daily basis.
Contributions and pledges from around the globe in support of the International Federation's work in China have reached 84.68 million Swiss francs (77.52 million USD/52.55 million Euro). In addition to funding essential services during the emergency phase of the relief effort, these contributions will also support a three year recovery plan. Recent assessments indicate that the building of safe and suitable housing must be a major priority.
"It's a race against time for the survivors to get their homes rebuilt. Faced with escalating costs for construction, if they don't get assistance, many of the most vulnerable families will find themselves with an unmanageable burden of debt," says Qinghui Gu, who heads the Federation's support operations in the Sichuan provincial capital, Chengdu.
The escalating price of bricks and other building materials in many of the affected areas means that assistance from the International Federation and the Red Cross Society of China could mean the difference between rebuilding better and safer homes before the onset of winter and having to remain in tents throughout the cold months.