China
region starts from scratch after devastating quake
On the morning of 3 June a
violent earthquake struck the Pu'er region of southwestern China. The quake measured
6.4 on the Richter scale and over 90 percent of all homes and buildings in the
region were badly damaged or destroyed in an instant.
To
date, 44,000 families have lost their homes and a further 58,000 will need to
carry out major repairs before returning home. Amazingly with an earthquake of
this magnitude, only three people were killed and a further 28 seriously injured.
The
low casualty count is very fortunate and attributed to the quake striking in daylight
hours. But the region is bracing for difficult times ahead. For a population whose
annual average income is $80 dollars the economic loss will be devastating.
Since
that first quake there have been over 30,000 recorded aftershocks, 30 of those
scoring above 3 on the Richter scale. With so much seismic activity no one is
taking any chances and most of the 190,000 local residents are choosing to sleep
in tents despite heavy rainfall.
Our
organisation was invited to assist in the relief operation by the Chinese government's
development agency, The China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA). After
taking an assessment walk around Ning'er city with a team from the CFPA, I could
understand why so many people are taking the tent option.
Most
of the buildings that "survived" the first quake look ominously unstable
with huge cracks running through walls and windows smashed. The streets are strewn
with rubble like a scene form a war zone and everyone is nervously waiting for
the next strike.
Having
heard very little in the international press on the earthquake I didn't really
know what to expect on arriving in Ning'er and I had no idea that the level of
destruction would be as high as it is. But I also didn't expect the government
response to be as comprehensive as it is.
Of
the 44,000 displaced families I haven't seen one without a tent. There are medical
facilities offering free treatment and sufficient water and sanitation services
have been provided. Construction teams have already moved in to start repairing
the 5,685 km (3,530 miles) of roads that were damaged and the 109 schools that
were destroyed. It's quite impressive.
I
was told by a local volunteer that up until only last year the annual disaster
death toll was a closely kept state secret. In the past any details concerning
disasters and disaster relief were seen in an almost shameful light. Now the government
is encouraging community teamwork and more international assistance.
Operation
Blessing is working with the CFPA to distribute essential non-food items, clothing
and high-nutrition, vitamin-rich feeding supplement for children. For families
that lost everything this service is vital.
The
government estimates that the damage totals around 2.9 billion yuan ($380 million),
a mind boggling amount in an extremely poor region that is famous for its tea
production. The CFPA is worried because after years of slow but steady economic
growth, the earthquake has effectively reset the counter and one of China's poorest
regions will need to start from scratch.
It's
agonising to walk amongst the villages that surround Ning'er and see mud brick
houses razed to the ground. Some villagers are still picking through the mud,
looking for lost possessions.
This
is a place where insurance doesn't exist and many people are still coming to terms
with the fact that years of hard work and investment were wiped out in a matter
of seconds.
Once
the earth finally stops shaking, people will start rebuilding their homes. But
where the bulk of the revenue for rebuilding will come from still isn't known
and there is a long road ahead for the victims.
