Background

A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck the Sichuan Province in southwestern China on Monday, May 12, 2008. The official Xinhua News Agency has reported that nearly 35,000 have died and more than 245,000 people were injured, and that the death toll could reach as high as 50,000. The government says that about five million people have been left homeless by the quake.

The earthquake, which was felt as far away as Thailand and Vietnam, destroyed 80 percent of the structures in some of the towns and small cities near its epicenter. Dozen of villages and towns in the region are still cut off from soldiers and rescue workers, and aftershocks, rain, and flooding have disrupted communications and hampered relief efforts. Local officials have issued a radio appeal for food, water, and heavy machinery, warning that a looming crisis threatens thousands of survivors who have little access to fresh supplies, clean water, and shelter.

• The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has sent supplies from its relief center in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, and has launched an emergency appeal for $19 million to support survivors over the next 12 months. The American Red Cross has committed $10 million.
• Mercy Corps, through a longtime local partner, is channeling aid to survivors.
• The UN has contributed $7 million to relief efforts; the World Food Programme has purchased emergency food for victims; and UNICEF is rushing supplies to the region and estimates that $5 million will be needed for immediate aid.
• Doctors Without Borders has provided more than 210 tons of relief supplies as well as medical assistance to the survivors.
• Xinhua has information about organizations authorized by the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs to receive donations.

Sources: CNN, The New York Times

Relief Efforts

• Chinese Donate More Than $192-Million for Relief Effort
  The Chronicle of Philanthropy, May 16, 2008
• Aid Groups Continue to Face Obstacles in Myanmar, China
  Philanthropy News Digest, May 16, 2008
• Operation USA To Respond to China Earthquake
  Reuters, May 13, 2008 
• Macao SAR gov't to donate $16 mln for Sichuan earthquake relief
  China View, May 13, 2008
• Death toll reaches 12,000 in China
  Los Angeles Times, May 13, 2008
• Hong Kong pledges 38 mln usd for quake-hit China
  Forbes.com, May 13, 2008
• US to give $500,000 to China earthquake relief
  Reuters, May 13, 2008
• Direct Relief Checking In With Partners In China Following 7.9-Magnitude Quake
  Direct Relief International, May 12, 2008
• Save the Children Offers Help to China Following Earthquake
  Save The Children, May 12, 2008
• Earthquake rocks China
  UNICEF USA, May 12, 2008
• Massive Earthquake Strikes China
  MercyCorps, May 12, 2008

• The Asia Foundation
• UNICEF
• Operation USA
• Red Cross Society of China
• MercyCorps
• WorldVision

A list of aid agencies accepting contributions to help those affected by the earthquake in China is available from InterAction, a coalition of aid agencies, which can be contacted at InterAction at (202) 667-8227 or http://www.interaction.org.