Reconstructing Sichuan after the earthquake
7 November 2008
On 12 May 2008 an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck the Western Chinese province of Sichuan and its neighbours. Causing widespread destruction to buildings and infrastructure, the earthquake killed at least 70,000 people and injured over 370,000.
The response of the Chinese Government and the country's army, organisations and
people was tremendous. Rescue and relief efforts, led by soldiers, policemen and paramilitary forces,
saw over a
million tents, nearly 5 million blankets and 14 million sets of clothing
dispatched.
Equally impressive was the response of the international community, with over
$230 million raised to date from governments, companies,
foundations and individuals.
Tents provide shelter
In just one story from literally millions, Mrs Wang and her two sons were left
homeless when the earthquake devastated their village of Pan Long. They were
forced to construct their own makeshift tent amid the ruins.
For the Wang family help came in the shape of a tent donated by the UK Government and sent to China as part of DFID's relief effort. Theirs was just one of the 5,000 tents flown in on DFID flights.
In the
first months after the disaster DFID
contributed over
£2.5 million. Of this, £1 million was given to the Chinese
Association for NGO Co-operation, and £350,000 to the International Labour Organisation to help survivors
re-launch their businesses.
DFID is now setting up a facility to provide technical assistance for the
reconstruction effort, worth an additional £1 million. The focus will be on
areas where DFID already works in China, such as health, education, water and
sanitation.
Getting help to remote villages
In the aftermath of the disaster DFID was approached by China’s Office of
Poverty Alleviation and Development to help with their reconstruction
efforts. China faces the daunting task of rebuilding communities and
livelihoods in over 5,000 villages, most of which are very remote. DFID
will support schemes to help people in the remotest villages draw up their own
plans for reconstruction, based on local needs.
Having started pilot assessments for their reconstruction work, the
Chinese authorities are now keenly aware that they need to build up their
emergency capacity if they want to be able to work across such
large areas and in such short periods of time. They also need to adapt
the normal programmes of poverty alleviation which they were carrying
out to the new, more challenging context of reconstruction.
Using global contacts
DFID was also asked to help Chinese authorities link up with other organisations and experts in disaster relief and reconstruction. As a result, a workshop with international experts from around Asia and beyond was organised. Representatives of the disaster management agencies of, among others, Pakistan and India were able to share their expertise with their Chinese colleagues. These contacts should help the entire region become better prepared for when disasters strike in the future.
While
DFID is a relatively small player in the enormous reconstruction efforts
going on in China, there is much appreciation of the UK Government's contribution.
Material assistance has been supplemented by knowledge and global
contacts to help the Chinese authorities get well on the road to
reconstruction.
Facts and stats
- The 2008 China earthquake destroyed 6.5 million homes and affected 40 million people.
- In total the UK Government gave China £3,531,103 in cash contributions, and £1,181,103 for aid in kind (tents, food and other material aid).
- DFID is working with key partners in China to ensure that China’s health services can cope effectively with major disasters.
- DFID is paying for experts from the UK's Emergency Planning College to share their expertise with the Chinese. British experts will train officials of Sichuan Province where the earthquake hit hardest. Once tested in Sichuan, the training will be rolled out to all senior Chinese Government Officials.
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