(Jagganath, flood survivor in Maharashtra, received our emergency aid)
Since this July, India has been impacted by monsoon. This disaster was the most severe flood in recent 25 years. By the end of October, over 2,100 people died, 2.6 million people were inflicted and more than 400,000 houses were destroyed. [1] And Maharashtra, the major cane production area in India, was most severely impacted, where 22 districts were devastated, 430 people died, and over 700,000 residents were forced to seek shelter. [2]
The distribution process of relief material has been hampered because of the road block caused by heavy rain and landslide. Give thanks that the CEDAR’s China programme team and local church were able to successfully deliver all materials sponsored by HKSAR Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee to the quake affected families. Besides, members of Dazhou church went to the affected area and provided medical service.
1. Relief material distribution
CEDAR received a grant from HKSAR Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee for the second phase of relief distribution, and worked with local churches & Christian groups in Sichuan to deliver cooking oil, plastic sheets, metal food tanks and sanitary items for women, benefiting 2 administrative villages in Tianquan County and 3 administrative villages in Lushan County, altogether 2,772 households. The households greatly appreciate these materials, particularly the plastic sheets and metal food tanks. As rain still occurs frequently, they can wrap their properties with plastic sheets for protection and store their food in the food tanks.
Once rain had stopped and the road had reopened, the team was busy to load the materials into the trucks.
The truck arrived at midnight, and the staff team and volunteers were then busy to unload the plastic sheets despite heavy rain.
The staff was stock-checking the metal food tanks.
Villagers volunteered themselves to help in the distribution process.
Villagers collected the women sanitary packs.
Cooking oil fits exactly their needs.
Villagers were happy to receive the plastic sheets. They could wrap their properties and food so they don’t get wet.
Also, they like the metal food tank, as food can be stored in it and kept fresh.
Villagers had to walk over hills to carry the heavy packs of relief materials back home. They helped each other on the way.
The staff team also went to the affected villages to visit the families.
During the conversation with the villagers, the staff team learned their needs and also calmed down their worries.
Pray that the affected community can walk from the dire situation and embrace hope soon
2. Medical service
Medical service was organized in two townships in Lushan County, by Dazhou church, Sichuan. Many villagers in the affected areas exhibited dizziness, weakness, chronic illness and other sicknesses after the quake. The medical volunteer team provided consultation and certain medicines.
Through the service, we can identify the physical and psychological needs of the community after the quake and then provide counseling and post- trauma services, hoping this can assist them to start a new life.
Please keep praying for the new round of rehabilitation work that through our service we can continue to care for the quake victims.
Relief Donation
Cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’
Deposit to HSBC A/C No. 600-385678-001, enclosing with the Pay-in slip
[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details. [2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts. [3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.
Contact Method
Tel>23819627 Fax>23922777 Email>sharing@cedarfund.org Add>G.P.O. Box 3212Hong Kong
CEDAR’s China programme staff talks with quake survivors about their hardships and needs.
Apart from causing severe damage to infrastructures, the Sichuan Yaan Quake which took place on 20 April had resulted in serious psychological trauma among quake affected communities. In May, CEDAR’s China programme staff visited Shuangshi Town in Lushan County, Sichuan and discovered that many quake survivors have symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) such as intense fear, sleeplessness, irascibility, agitation, etc.
The powerful 7 magnitude earthquake not only destroyed the new three-storey house of Li Qiong and her husband, it also caused the death of her nearly one-month old baby boy. After this tragedy, Li Qiong seldom talk with neighbours. She has no facial expression while looking at villagers playing with their children or grandchildren. The presence of CEDAR’s staff provides a chance for her to pour out her sadness.
Shuangshi Town is located at mountainous area which lags behind in economic growth. Young villagers usually go to other places for work, leaving the elderly, women and children there. With limited medical service in remote mountainous villages, many elderly who live alone always worry about their health; because of low education level and the lack of social supporting network, local female mostly feel helpless to take care of the elderly and young children on their own. In addition to the psychological trauma caused by the quake, there is an urgent need of providing timely care and counseling among affected villagers.
Uncle Yang, 67-year old, lives in a tent with two grandchildren. It took him 18 years to refurbish and built his house. Unfortunately, the second floor has been totally collapsed after the quake. While talking about future, uncle Yang felt hopeless.
In order to save resources and address environmental concern, local government has decided not to build temporary prefabricated houses for quake survivors. This implies homeless quake victims may need to live in temporary tents for more than a year till their new houses are constructed or repaired. It is easy to imagine the kind of physical and psychological threats that quake victims will face when living long time in the open area.
A tent made by quake survivors
Tents are set up in the field and muddy land. In daytime, villagers go out for work. At night, it is not easy for them to sleep well with mosquitoes, insects, raindrops, sound of snoring, crying children and the threat of aftershock.
Villagers prepare the meals together in their temporary kitchen
CEDAR received a grant from HKSAR Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee for the second phase of relief distribution, working with local churches & Christian groups in Sichuan to deliver bottles of oil, plastic sheets, metal food tanks and sanitary items for women, targeting 2 administrative villages with 426 household in Tianquan County and 4 administrative villages with 2,880 households in Lushan County.
For the post-disaster rehabilitation, CEDAR will provide case referral and counseling service, organise community self-help groups, conduct community education activities, provide psychological and social support to children and youth, elderly and women in disaster areas to reduce the phenomenon of PTSD.
Please continue to remember the hardships and needs of quake victims, support our service among the quake affected communities done in partnership with Sichuan churches and Christian groups and to walk with the victims and rebuild their living together.
Relief Donation
Cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’
Deposit to HSBC A/C No. 600-385678-001, enclosing with the Pay-in slip
[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details. [2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts. [3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.
Contact Method
Tel>23819627 Fax>23922777 Email>sharing@cedarfund.org Add>G.P.O. Box 3212Hong Kong
▲ CEDAR is a member of Integral Alliance, responding to disasters worldwide in partnership with Christian relief agencies around the world: www.integralalliance.org
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
An earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale on 20 April struck Lushan County in Yaan, Sichuan, promptly bringing back the memory of Wenchuan quake five years ago. However, the public media soon turn their focus on whether HKSAR government should grant China 100 million HKD relief fund and the integrity of relief and development agencies. Also many people said, ‘I would not donate any of my money to this relief work.’ These made a huge contrast with the past active response of Hong Kong people to emergency relief, concern for the hardships and needs of victims and touching stories with compassion.
CEDAR China Project Officers have successfully completed a post-disaster need assessment and have developed a relief & rehabilitation plan of action. Meanwhile, we have submitted a relief proposal to HKSAR Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee to consider. During the need assessment process, our staff was blocked by landslides on the road several times. Till now, the basic living needs of quake victims have been satisfied by the relief materials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs of PRC. However, because of the collapsed houses and the small leaking tents due to rain, the victims are now struggling with the shelter and food storage problems, and diseases such as joint pains and skin infections. In the quake affected areas, there are still victims living in crude tents besides collapsed houses, to eat & sleep in the open. In addition with the frequent aftershocks and rainy season, victims in the remote mountainous areas are most vulnerable.
CEDAR will continue working with local churches & Christian groups in Sichuan to deliver bottles of oil, plastic sheets, metal food tanks and sanitary items for women, targeting 2 administrative villages with 426 household in Tianquan County and four administrative villages with 2,880 households in Lushan County. Total budget is 3.1 million HKD. [Sichuan Yaan Quake Relief]
Pray for Sichuan quake relief work:
Pray that we will get a grant approval from HKSAR Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee to implement the next phase of relief work shortly;
Pray that local churches and Christian groups and CEDAR will be a channel of God’s grace and love to victims;
May God guides our way on the mid-term and long-term post-quake relief and rehabilitation works.
Relief Donation
Cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’
Deposit to HSBC A/C No. 600-385678-001, enclosing with the Pay-in slip
[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details. [2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts. [3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.
Contact Method
Tel>23819627 Fax>23922777 Email>sharing@cedarfund.org Add>G.P.O. Box 3212Hong Kong
CEDAR China Project Officers have successfully completed a post-disaster need assessment and have developed a relief & rehabilitation plan of action. Meanwhile, we have submitted a relief proposal to HKSAR Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee to consider. During the need assessment process, our staff was blocked by landslides on the road several times. Till now, the basic living needs of quake victims have been satisfied by the relief materials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs of PRC. However, because of the collapsed houses and the small leaking tents due to rain, the victims are now struggling with the shelter and food storage problems, and diseases such as joint pains and skin infections.
This time the local authority has no plan to build temporary shelters (prefabricated houses) to affected families. The families will need to live in the tents for at least one year while they repair or rebuild their houses. The affected families urgently need to tackle problems of leaking tents, shortages of food supplies and women sanitation items. In the quake affected areas, some victims are still living in crude tents besides collapsed houses and taking meals and sleep in the open. In addition to frequent aftershocks, the current rainly season has made villagers from these remote mountainous areas more vulnerable.
Talk with female villagers in Yuxi Village in Baosheng, Lushan County
A victim standing on the debris of his collapsed house in Yuxi Village in Baosheng
Communicate with local social workers in Shuanghe Village in Shuangshi Township, Lushan County
Damaged houses in Shuanghe Village
Have meeting with the officials of Gonghe Village in Tianquan County
Damaged houses in Gonghe Village, Tianquan County
Emergency Relief Plan
CEDAR will continue working with local churches & Christian groups in Sichuan to deliver bottles of oil, plastic sheets, metal food tanks and sanitary items for women, targeting 2 administrative villages with 426 household in Tianquan County and four administrative villages with 2,880 households in Lushan County. Total budget is 3.1 million HKD.
Emergency relief is just the first response in an quake. The mid-term and long-term post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation works are very important. According to staff ’s observation, the NGOs are mainly aware of the need of affected children, but less attention given to the aged and disabled people. We will try to explore the needs of the aged and disabled victims. Please continue to support and pray for our relief & rehabilitation work in Sichuan Yaan Quake.
Relief Donation
Cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’
Deposit to HSBC A/C No. 600-385678-001, enclosing with the Pay-in slip
[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details. [2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts. [3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.
Contact Method
Tel>23819627 Fax>23922777 Email>sharing@cedarfund.org Add>G.P.O. Box 3212Hong Kong
