|
The sanitation team will be joined by a logistics delegate who will support the distribution of relief items, including 5,000 tents donated by the British Red Cross.
Urgent assistance
The Sichuan province quake – measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale – is the worst earthquake to hit the country in 30 years. More than 60,000 people have been confirmed dead, with another 350,000 injured and around 24,000 still missing.
More than five million people have been left homeless and in some towns, 80 per cent of buildings – including schools, hospitals and factories – have been destroyed.
Helping survivors
The Red Cross has spent around £30 million on emergency relief in the area to date, providing relief items – such as food, water, shelter and medical equipment – to more than 800,000 survivors.
The Red Cross Society of China has been providing non-stop assistance since the earthquake struck, deploying 17 medical teams, 33 first aid teams and 31 rescue and relief teams to affected areas. Altogether, around 35,000 Red Cross staff and volunteers are involved in the relief effort.
Following the disaster, the British Red Cross immediately launched an emergency appeal to support the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s response, which so far has raised more than £2.1 million.
Pete Garratt, British Red Cross relief operations manager, said: "With so many people made homeless and being housed in temporary locations, the need to provide hygienic sanitation facilities to prevent the spread of disease is crucial.
“The British Red Cross sanitation unit is highly trained and specialised, and will help the local Red Cross branch to address the needs of 20,000 people."
More about our China earthquake response
China earthquake information sheet
China earthquake in pictures | 
