©InfoThe Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) continues to lead the earthquake recovery operation with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and its international partners.
Relief
In the immediate aftermath of the quake, Red Cross staff and volunteers distributed tents, food, water, clothes and medicine, reaching more than one million survivors. They were also heavily involved in the rescue and treatment of the injured pulled from the rubble.
As the focus in China turned to safeguarding the health of survivors, a British Red Cross team that specialises in preventing the outbreak of disease was deployed for two months. The four-member response team built 300 latrines and conducted hygiene promotion training in Jiulong and Banqiao townships.
The Federation also sent several psychosocial support teams to the affected area to provide emotional support and practical help for survivors.
As well as deploying logistics and sanitation experts to support the emergency response, the British Red Cross immediately made a £25,000 donation from its own Disaster Fund and launched an appeal on 14 May 2008, which raised £4.8 million.
Rebuilding
After the earthquake, five million houses needed to be built, a reconstruction effort comparable to rebuilding Sweden or a major city such as London or New Delhi. The Red Cross constructed more than 1.9 million earthquake-resistant homes, 660 schools and 2,000 medical clinics and hospitals in the worst-affected provinces.
As well as shelter, the Federation’s recovery support programme to the Chinese Red Cross includes livelihoods, water and sanitation, healthcare and preparing communities for future disasters.
Recovery
Money raised by the British Red Cross appeal has gone towards supporting the Federation’s livelihoods programme. By the end of March 2011, 4,876 people had benefitted from the programme, which involves microfinance and vocational training.
The training project enables rural people whose lives have been affected by the earthquake to learn a skill to help them find employment. Vocational courses range from embroidery to mining, while a ‘Start Your Business’ course gives people the information they need to establish their own enterprise.
The microfinance project provides small grants of money to help people build or rebuild their own businesses, enabling them to become financially independent.
In total, the programme will support 6,000 displaced farmers and 600 people left disabled by the earthquake.
More about the China earthquake
Updated May 2011