25 June 2010

China floods: Assessment team arrives in hard-hit flood area

  1. Flooding has affected millions of people in southern China.
  2. World Vision staff distribute child-friendly kits to children after flooding affected millions of people in southern China.
  3. Xiao Chun, aged 4, and her grandma stand in front of their house, which collapsed in the China floods.
  4. Trapped people are rescued by emergency workers after the Fuhe River in Jiangxi province, China, breached its bank.
  5. Xiao Chun, aged 4, stands with the remains of her house after it collapsed in the flooding which caused mass evacuations in southern China.

Friday 25 June 2010

Mass flooding in China has affected some 30 million people across 10 regions of south China with more heavy rains predicted, as World Vision moves to respond to the monsoon onslaught.

An assessment team has arrived in Gaotian and Gaofu townships of Zixi County in Jiangxi Province to identify the immediate needs of affected people. Hygiene kits and child-friendly kits have been distributed to the affected families and children to ease their imminent difficulties, and to bring a sense of normalcy in the lives of the children as they play with their toys.

In Zixi County, a 90-year-old villager expressed that this appears to be the most severe flood she has ever witnessed in her life. At peak times, the water level has risen 1metre more within just half an hour. The continuous rainfall that began on 19 June has caused destructions of houses, bridges, farmlands and electricity supply in some areas.

“The affected people are in need of food.” Louise Chau, member of the World Vision assessment team in Jiangxi Province.

It is estimated that the flood survivors may face with food shortage in the next 6-12 months since many of the crops had been washed away by the floods.

According to official figures, the heavy flooding has so far left 211 people dead, 119 missing and 30 million people affected in 10 provinces and regions. The hardest hit provinces are Hunan, Fujian and Jiangxi.

China’s rainy season which began in May follows the worst drought in a century for several southern regions.

World Vision has been working in China since 1982, and most recently provided assistance to survivors of the April 2010 Qinghai, China earthquake.

Post a comment

Gift catalogue

Child Sponsorship means more than you think.

West Africa food crisis - Donate now