NATIONS UNIES UNITED NATIONS

BUREAU DE LA OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION COORDINATION DES AFFAIRES HUMANITAIRES OCHA OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS

OCHA Situation Report No. 7 Province, – Earthquake 22 May 2008

NOTE: This report is based on information received from the office of United Nations Resident Coordinator, the media as well as other partners.

Key Summary • More than 3.3 million tents are urgently needed and have been requested by the Government of China to the international community. • Donors are encouraged to report their contributions, including in-kind contributions, to OCHA’s Financial Tracking System (FTS), http://ocha.unog.ch/fts2/.

Situation 1. On 12 May 2008 a major earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale struck , Aba Prefecture some 92km northwest of City, the capital of Sichuan Province. The earthquake took place at 14.48 Beijing-time and tremors were felt as far as Wuhan, Shanghai and Beijing.

2. According to official statistics, the confirmed number of dead is 51,151 people. An additional 288,431 people are injured and 28,328 people missing. An estimated 80 percent of the dead have been buried or cremated. The Government of China stated that more than 5.2 million people have been left homeless.

3. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 68,608 people have been hospitalized as stated by the Ministry of Health. Around 3,444 people have died in hospitals; 28,497 people discharged; and 33,665 people still being treated. 3,002 patients have been transferred outside of Sichuan Province for further treatment.

Environmental Situation 4. The Ministry for Environmental Protection (MEP) has reported that the air quality is normal compared to that before the earthquake. The quality of the surface water at the 71 sites that have been assessed meets national standards.

5. According to the Sichuan Provincial Construction Department stated that 5,000 km pipes, 839 water tanks, and 1,281 water treatment works have been damaged, affecting 10.59 million people across the province. Professional repair teams have been dispatched to the affected areas.

6. Chinese media reports stated that the Bikou reservoir, China’s largest earth-rock dam located in Qingchuan County ( City, Sichuan Province) moved 30 cm due to the earthquake, and has become a potential threat to residents in the area. The water level in the quake caused lakes in Qushan town (Beichuan County) to rise as well as blocking a road along the river in the west of Qushan town.

7. Nuclear facilities and radioactive sources for civilian purposes in Sichuan Province have been confirmed safe and controllable after the quake, according to the Environmental Minister of China. Out

1 of the 32 radioactive sources which had been buried under debris caused by the earthquake, 30 have been recovered by authorities so far. The locations of the remaining two radioactive sources are reported to have been detected and the materials concerned are to be transported to safe areas shortly.

Needs 8. The Government of China mobilized a large-scale rescue effort composed of the army, police, paramilitary forces, rescue and medical teams. Military rescuers reached 1,044 of the worst-hit villages under 134 townships in southwestern Sichuan Province. A total of 403,340 tents, 2.3 million quilts, and 3.05 million articles of clothing have been allocated to the affected areas, as well as 384,000 tons of wheat and rice.

9. The Government of China is accepting international medical teams and is urgently requesting tents; medical supplies and medical equipment from the international community (please refer to OCHA Situation Report #6 for a detailed list).

10. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health priorities are the following: 1) treating the injured; 2) communicable disease surveillance and control; ensuring safe water and food supply; 3) immediate and long-term mental health and psychosocial support; 4) reconstruction of the health care system in the affected areas.

National Response 11. The Ministry of Health deployed medical teams from 26 provinces in the affected areas, including 58,663 medical health workers and 7,638 health workers mobilized by the MoH. National sanitary and anti-epidemic workers are focusing on disease control and prevention activities in 12 severely affected areas. As of 21 May, the MoH sent out 65 tons of disinfectants; 44,400 pairs of acid- proof gloves; 50,000 disposable protective suits; 6,000 sprayers; and 100,000 facemasks to the affected area. TB experts, mental health and psychosocial support personnel have also been deployed.

12. The Chinese Red Cross has been designated by the Government to coordinate external health teams in Sichuan while it continues to provide emergency medical services on-site. More than 35,000 local Red Cross staff and volunteers have been working with rescue and medical teams to distribute tents, food, water, clothes, and medicine. Two psychosocial support teams have been sent to the area to assist the affected people with emotional distress.

13. According to Chinese media reports, Premier Wen Jiabao announced on 21 May that the Government of China will allocate 70 billion yuan (approximately US$ 10.14 billion) for 2008 as a reconstruction fund for the earthquake-affected areas; this reconstruction fund is expected to cover a two-year period.

14. Various Government institutions have continued to offer financial support. The People’s Bank of China announced a provision of an additional 1.5 billion yuan (US$ 21.5 million) in loans for local commercial banks and cooperatives. The Ministry of Finance will also set aside an additional 1.17 billion yuan (US$ 167 million) for continued disaster relief.

15. A 30-member expert committee for earthquake relief and reconstruction will be established under the leadership of the State Council’s earthquake relief headquarters in Beijing. This committee, composed of scientific experts from 22 various disciplines, will focus on developing a reconstruction plan for the earthquake-affected area as well as proposing precautionary measures for the future.

UN Response 16. A CERF grant from the rapid response window has been approved. A total of six UN agencies (i.e. UNICEF, UNDP, UNHCR, WHO, WFP and UNFPA) have submitted projects in five sectors – WASH, food, non-food items, health, and shelter. The total amount approved is US$8,015,556.

2 17. UNHCR will provide 11,000 tents for 55,000 people; these tents will be manufactured in China and transported the earthquake zone. UNESCO’s submission for an US$ 50,000 emergency contribution has been approved and will be routed through the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO.

18. WHO’s China Emergency Response Task Force continues to monitor and respond to health sector needs as communicated by the Ministry of Health. In response to a request by the Government of China, WHO will send experts for technical support and reconstruction of the health care system. MoH and MOFA have requested WHO to provide surgical kits and Inter-agency Emergency Health Kits (IEHK).

19. UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit has offered assessment support to the Government of China, while a team of experts remain on stand-by. In consultation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP), several environmental monitoring instruments have been identified and will be made available shortly.

20. UNICEF is providing 6,000 sleeping bags; 500 tents; children’s clothing and shoes for 10,000 children; and personal hygiene kits. As part of a joint mission, UNICEF deployed staff as part of a multi-sectoral assessment team on the ground.

21. WFP has delivered 40 mt of noodles to the Red Cross which will feed around 100,000 people for 7 days and is being distributed in City and 4 neighboring counties. WFP also issued tenders for 473 metric tons of rice, wheat flour, and vegetable oil (the 2nd batch of relief food) for Sichuan Province, which will be distributed by the Red Cross. These emergency relief rations will be sufficient for 100,000 people for an additional 3 weeks.

22. UNFPA has made available US$ 50,000 for relief activities. US$ 40,000 will be disbursed to the Government of China for the procurement of tents and blankets. Reproductive health kits and requested hygiene kits are being mobilized.

23. ILO met with the Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, offering assistance and support. ILO is working with partners to identify entrepreneurial ship and livelihood activities as part of rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.

24. According to OCHA’s Financial Tracking System (FTS), a total of US $67 million in funding (contributions and commitments) have been made, in addition to US $75.5 million in pledges from more than 20 donors. Most of these commitments and pledges are cash or in-kind contributions.

Coordination 25. The National Disaster Reduction Centre of China in the Department of Disaster & Social Relief, Ministry of Civil Affairs, handles national disaster response coordination.

26. UN support to the Government is coordinated by the UN Resident Coordinator and assisted by UN partners and the UN Disaster Management Team. OCHA’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) in Bangkok is liaising closely with the UNDMT and the China Earthquake Administration.

Contacts Mr. Khalid Malik, UN Resident Coordinator Email: [email protected] ,Tel:+86-10-85-320-700, Fax: +86-10-85-320-900

Ms. Yin Yin Nwe, UNICEF Representative and Chair, UNDMT-China E-mail: [email protected] , Tel: +86-10-65-323-131, Mobile: +86-13-801-009-447 3

Mr. Terje Skavdal, Head of OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) E-mail: [email protected], Tel: + 66 2288 2425, Mobile: +66 81 916 1276

Mr. Rajan Gengaje, Regional Disaster Response Advisor, OCHA ROAP E-mail: [email protected], Tel: + 66 2288 2572, Mobile: +66 81 916 1271

This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34 Fax: +41-22-917 00 23 In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers: (New York) Ms. Agnes Asekenye-Oonyu, Chief, Asia and the Pacific Section Tel: +1 212 963 1773 Mobile: +1 917 476 6164 E-mail: [email protected]

Ms. Ah-Young Kim Desk Officer, Asia and the Pacific Section Tel: +1 212 963 5131 Mobile: +1 917 349 5109 E-mail: [email protected]

(Geneva) Mr. Alfred Nabeta Humanitarian Affairs Officer, Geographical Coordination and Monitoring Section Tel: +41 22 917 2732 Mobile: +79 445 3382 E-mail: [email protected]

Press contact: (Geneva) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs Tel. +41 22 917 2653 E-mail: [email protected] (New York) Ms. Stephanie Bunker Tel. +1 917 367 5126 E-mail: [email protected]

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