Donate to Disaster Relief Efforts in China

Donate to Disaster Relief Efforts in China

On Monday, May 12, at 2.28 p.m. Beijing time (6:28 GMT), a major earthquake, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, jolted southwestern China's Sichuan Province. Several lower-scale earthquakes and aftershocks followed in the same area. The quake destroyed many buildings in the area, as well as infrastructure like communication towers.

According to the latest reports, more than 12,000 people have died and many more have been injured or are missing. Many schools were destroyed, including one that had at least 900 students in it. As authorities reach more remote areas, these numbers are expected to rise.

American Red Cross
Immediately after the quake struck, the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) began to mobilize a relief operation for this disaster. The American Red Cross has been in touch with the RCSC and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and stands prepared to provide including relief supplies, delegates or financial assistance, as needed.

The RCSC immediately mobilized its staff and volunteers, as well as relief supplies, such as tents, quilts and other materials. Already, volunteers and staff from the RCSC have been distributing food, water and tents to people in the affected area. Assessment teams are on the ground to determine the extent of the damage.
On May 12, the International Federation allocated nearly US $240,000 from the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) to help the RCSC deliver immediate assistance.
To donate to the relief effort by the American Red Cross, please visit http://www.redcross.org/news/in/profiles/Intl_profile_ChinaEarthquake.html

Unicef
There are an estimated 12 million school age children in Sichuan Province. More than 2 million of them live in the most damaged prefectures, according to UNICEF Communication Officer Dale Rutstein, who asserts that it is "no longer possible to keep track of the number of schools and public buildings that have collapsed, burying many children and adults under rubble."

"We'll be looking to immediately tend to the casualties, the people who are injured," said Mr. Rutstein. "But the biggest concern of ours right now is we just don't know how big this is going to be. Sichuan is one of the most populous provinces in China, and it's one of the poorer provinces in China. So we're quite fearful it's going to get a lot bigger."

Prior to the earthquake, UNICEF China had been implementing its programs extensively throughout Sichuan Province. In the worst affected counties, UNICEF implements early childhood development, HIV/AIDS, child protection and local planning projects.

Funds generated for the response to this disaster will most likely be used for the early relief phase as well as the longer-term recovery and development of quake-affected communities.
To donate to the relief effort by Unicef, please visit http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/china_43935.html

Chinese Consulate
Checks can be made payable to: "Chinese Consulate General in New York"Memo: "Earthquake Relief Donation"
Address: Chinese Consulate General in New York c/o Liu Lei520 12th Ave, New York, NY 10036;
Tel: 212-244 9392Ext. 65306; and 1000
Please provide your name and address and the Chinese Consulate will send everyone a receipt.
Chinese Consulate in New York: http://www.nyconsulate.prchina.org/chn/lgxw/t434163.htm