Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Quakes Hit China, Children in the Streets in Peril

An earthquake update from Children's Hope Melody Zhang, in China:

On Monday, May 12, Sichuan China and 9 other areas were devastated by the strongest earthquake to hit the region in 32 years. At the epicenter in Wenchuan County, the quake registered at 7.9 on the Richter scale. Over 300 smaller aftershocks have since been reported. At least 12,000 have died and, according to the official Xinhua news agency, another 18,645 people remain buried under debris in Mianyang city, near the quake's epicenter.

Caption: Children in Chengdu sleep on the street for fear of additional earthquakes.
One third of the houses have collapsed within Wenchuan County. The greatest peril now for survivors huddling in makeshift shelters is exposure to the cold and rain. The need of the entire region is for tents, food, and medicine. Children's Hope is collecting funds to help purchase the needed items for the young victims, now in the streets. Our volunteers in Chongqing and Chengdu will be on the front lines delivering the items as soon as they are able.

Melody is phoning in updates. Please watch her blog and the Children's Hope Development Aid website as critical information trickles in.


For our adopting families: Children's Hope works with three orphanages for international adoption in the surrounding area - Chengdu, Chongqing and Yibin. Our orphanages are doing well.

 


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