Disaster Relief Shelters Foundation » Earthquake Relief

Revisiting Di Kang Le Community Center

Amy Zerotus — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 03:02:03 +0000

On April 1st, 2011, we took reporters from China Daily to Di Kang Le community center in Mianzhu, Sichuan.
It’s been a time since we were there.

Reporter is interviewing a local resident passing by. He said cheerfully,”I come here often to hang out with my friends and drink tea, other villages don’t have a meeting place like it.”

Farmers in China quake zone struggle for funds to rebuild homes

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:21:08 +0000

BEIJING, June 25 2009

(Xinhua) — Poor farmers in areas of southwest China struck by a massive earthquake in May 2008 face financial problems in rebuilding their homes, an official said here Wednesday.

Zhang Ping, minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country’s top economic planning body, said some impoverished people could not get bank loans to rebuild their homes because of their tough economic situation and limited incomes.

Zhang’s remarks came in a report to the ninth session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature.

He reported on reconstruction work after the May 12, magnitude-8.0 earthquake in southwestern Sichuan Province, which left more than 87,000 people dead or missing.

The official called for forceful measures to ensure the rebuilding of homes for poverty-stricken households and aid to address their financial problems, material and labor shortages.

The reconstruction of rural houses should be completed by the end of the year so rural residents could spend the new year in “warm new houses,” he said.

Other problems found were slow progress in the reconstruction of urban homes, reduced financing capacity of rural financial institutions for small and medium-sized enterprises and shortages of building materials and technical support for the quake-hit region, according to Zhang.

He urged increased attention to the psychological problems of quake survivors. Despite counseling, government officials and residents still had psychological problems after having lost relatives and property and then facing heavy life and work pressures, he said.

Two government officials in quake-battered Beichuan County of Sichuan Province committed suicide after the disaster. Feng Xiang,33, and Dong Yufei, 40, both hanged themselves after losing family members. And in Mianyang City, a third official, He Zonghua, 40, jumped to his death from a hotel.

According to a survey by Sichuan University, more than 400,000 people in the quake zone are experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). More than 40,000 of those with PTSD are at risk of suicide, said Zhang Wei, deputy president of the West China Hospital under Sichuan University.

The Sichuan provincial government dispatched medical groups last year to 10 of the worst-hit counties to relieve officials’ mental stress and ensure every official took holidays. The government also spent money to improve the working and living conditions of the officials.

However, experts admitted China lacked mental health professionals and staff trained in handling PTSD.

Zhang from the NDRC said long-term psychological assistance would be targeted at the population suffering from psychological disorders.

The government would send experienced professionals to offer counseling for local people and provide training for medical staff in the quake area for at least half a year, according to the official.

Staff at grassroots medical institutions in the quake zone were also expected to finish a year of study on psychological treatment in other provinces on rotation, he said.

At the NPC meeting, Zhang told legislators that China had invested more than 360 billion yuan (52.7 billion U.S. dollars) in reconstruction projects in the area as of the end of April.

Reconstruction was under way for nearly 2,800 schools and more than 1,500 medical institutions, accounting for more than 75 percent and 60 percent, respectively, of the total.

Nearly 70 percent of students in the quake zone had moved into permanent school buildings and the percentage would rise to 95 by the end of this year, according to the official.

All students in the region would be back in permanent school buildings next March, he said.

Editor: Zhang Ning | Source: Xinhua

中国地震灾区农民为重建家园而努力

北京，2009年6月25日

（新华社）—中国西南部严重受地震影响的不幸农民们，面临着重建家园的财务困难，一位官员在星期三这样说道。
张平，中国发改委主任，国家最高经济规划机构，说一些穷困的…

详见第205页

Quake victims still waiting for decent roofs

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:15:59 +0000

2009-06-25 09:28By Tan Yingzi (China Daily)

Ever since her house was destroyed in the massive earthquake last year, Wang Xianqiong, who once owned a beauty salon in Beichuan county, Sichuan province, has been staying in a makeshift shelter with her disabled husband and college-going son.

Though the government has promised its share in helping quake victims build or buy new houses, Wang has no idea when she will be able to start her life afresh in a decent flat.

Beichuan, one of the worst hit areas by the 8.0-magnitude quake, started rebuilding its city on a new site in May. The government has said its residents could possibly move into the new city by May next year.

But houses in the city, even though at subsidized rates, are too expensive for Wang to afford.

“I am earning a living for my family running a small hair salon in the temporary settlement area now. We barely manage to make enough to feed ourselves. How can I save money to buy a flat?” the 41 year old questioned.

Despite efforts and massive investments, the Chinese government is still facing several difficulties in its post-quake reconstruction projects, according a State Council report released yesterday.

The poor in urban and rural areas have inadequate access to financial resources to rebuild their homes and there is still a shortage of construction material, the report said.

As part of the country’s 4 trillion yuan economic stimulus package, the central government has poured nearly 155 billion yuan ($22.7 billion), including $1.8 billion from overseas loans, into reconstruction work.

By the end of April, Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces had completed a total of 9,400 projects, mainly in housing, infrastructure, public services, industry and city reconstruction, and kicked off another 21,000 projects.

“The average price for commercial residential housing in Beichuan before the earthquake was about 1,400 yuan per sq m,” Wang said.

The government has promised to give a 32,000-yuan housing subsidy to families of three, plus a 50,000-yuan low-interest loan.

For Wang and others like her, it’s still nowhere close to enough.

“No matter how much the government lowers the prices of the flats, I still have no money to buy one,” Wang said.

Wang’s story is similar to those of hundreds of people in Beichuan county, where most businesses were destroyed, leaving many without means of earning an income.

Wang, her disabled husband and son might have been fortunate enough to survive the disaster, which killed more than 70,000 people, but like most, they have nothing left.

Her life savings were invested in her beauty salon, which, like her house, became a pile of debris.

Zhang Ping, director of the State Development and Reform Commission, told the 9th session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature yesterday: “We always give first priority to housing projects in our whole reconstruction plan.”

In rural areas, almost all houses threatening to collapse have been reinforced and 76 percent of newly constructed houses are complete, said Zhang.

“But the urban housing projects are lagging behind due to the complicated ownership issue,” he said.

In cities, only about half of the shaky houses have been reinforced and “8.9 percent of planned new houses have been built”, according to the State Council report. It also pointed out that in addition to the 51 worst hit counties, other quake-hit regions have “not received enough reconstruction funds” to rebuild public service facilities, such as schools and hospitals.

地震灾民仍在等待安置房屋

2009-06-25 09:28谭颖子（中国日报）

四川王先琼曾经在北川县拥有一家美发店，自她的房子在去年的大地震中被毁坏至今，她一直和她残废的丈夫和正在读大学儿子住在临时板房里。

虽然政府许诺帮助灾民建造……

详见第200页

Nation mourns quake dead

roland — Mon, 11 May 2009 10:50:29 +0000

reconstruction after earthquake, one year aniversary of the 512 earthquake

BEIJING/MIANYANG, April 29 (Xinhua) – An online plea for the public to mourn the 80,000 people dead or missing in last year’s devastating earthquake is being spread rapidly among Internet users, less than two weeks before the first anniversary of the disaster.

“Make sure you plant chrysanthemums in your garden on May 9,” reads the message, posted at kaixin001.com, a Facebook-style social networking website based in Beijing where office workers enjoy buying virtual property ranging from slaves to luxury cars and houses, and planting trees and flowers in their gardens.

“The flower takes 68 hours to bloom, so on May 12, we’ll be mourning those who died in the quake,” it says.

It also advised everyone not to steal others’ chrysanthemums, as most members of the free access website enjoy harvesting and selling others’ plants to make virtual money.

The message, which first appeared at kaixin001.com at 9:20 a.m. Wednesday, had been forwarded to 221,810 people and received 611,600 clicks by 3 p.m.

The nation’s memory of the 8.0-magnitude earthquake is still fresh and overshadows the forthcoming three-day Labor Day holiday starting Friday.

Large crowds of reporters, social workers and volunteers have poured into the quake zones in the western provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi, hoping to share local people’s woes and give a helping hand, in one way or another.

GUITAR BAND IN WHEELCHAIRS

Every day at 6:30 p.m., Yan Peng and his eight schoolmates begin their daily guitar course in a makeshift classroom of Changhong Training Center on the suburbs of Sichuan’s Mianyang City, the temporary campus of Beichuan High School that toppled in the quake.

“I’ve always loved the guitar, though I never learned to play before the quake,” said Yan, a quiet, bespectacled 17-year-old.

Yan was among the first to flee the ramshackle school building, but soon returned to save his classmates, and ended up in the ruins himself. He lost his right leg. The school suffered nearly 1,000 dead.

Four months after the quake, the school received a special gift from Beijing-based Capital Normal University: 15 guitars and some volunteer teachers — all music majors of the university who take turns teaching in Mianyang.

“This is the best we could do to help these students,” said Sheng Xue, a junior student whose volunteer service began two weeks ago.

Yan is among the nine most avid learners who have persisted. All of them bear injuries. Some are permanently confined to a wheelchair.

Besides music, Liu Min said she also loved volleyball, though she could only play on wheelchair these days. The 17-year-old recalls with affection a meeting with Premier Wen Jiabao last November, when she led the band to sing “You and Me”, the theme song of the Beijing Olympics.

“I used to be healthy and sportive,” said Liu, who had wanted to be a police officer but now plans to major in law.

NEW HOMES BUILT ON HORSEBACK

Wei Songping and his horse left at daybreak to carry cement for the villagers: a fleet of seven horses was all the 17 families in the mountainous Liangjiashan Village rely on to transport building materials for their new homes.

“It’s not because we don’t have manpower or vehicles,” said Wei. “But no vehicle can make it along the only path down the mountain, which is merely a meter wide.”

Liangjiashan was a mountain-top village separated from the county seat of Wenxian in Gansu Province only by a river. Almost every home was destroyed in the quake and the whole village had to be relocated to a hillside township closer to the county seat.

“I can’t stand overburdening my mule,” said villager Li Zhanlin. “The animals take turns taking a day off every three days.”

In nine months, Li’s mule carried 40,000 bricks, 12 tonnes of cement and 20 cubic meters of sand that have now become his family’s five new houses.

His neighbor Liang Baocheng, however, lags far behind. “I have to finish building the new home by the end of June. My son is about to get married this year.” In rural China, parents traditionally hold themselves liable for building new homes for their adult sons.

“Local authorities held geological surveys and confirmed the new site was safe from quakes,” said Liang, who said the government was doing a “great job”. “They could do better, though, by paving the road. If only the path was two meters wide, we could have moved into new homes earlier.”

In Wenxian, one of the hardest-hit areas in Gansu Province, about 35,000 families are rebuilding homes in the mountains. At least half of them rely only on horses, according to the county government.

“The horses have to toil for as long as the rebuilding may take,” said Liang. “Our homes are built on horseback.”

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Flowers are constantly seen these days in the ruins of Beichuan, the Sichuan county that perished in the quake. The scarlet corn poppies and yellow and white chrysanthemums seem to be mourning for the dead and welcoming a safer new Beichuan.

People in Sichuan, young and old, are taking their time to shake off their nightmarish past.

In Anxian County, Lin Xingcong and his bride are giving finishing touches to their new home. “We’ll plant orchids here,” Lin said as he pointed to the clearing between two houses, “with seeds from my old home.”

Nine-year-old Xiao Daipeng, a primary school pupil in Shifang City, forced a smile as he subconsciously touched the stump of his right leg. “I wish I could score better in science class,” he said when Xinhua reporters asked what was in his dreams.

“In the future? I wish I could find a good job,” said Xiao.

Disaster Relief Shelters: Recent Developments

admin — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 13:55:13 +0000

Disaster Relief Shelters earned its 501c3 status from the U.S. Government last week. This now allows donations to be listed as tax deductible in accordance with applicable laws for American citizens.

DRS will use PayPal for its donation conduit. In addition to a general appeal for much needed support, DRS asks that you or your organization consider sponsoring a home, dormitory or mutli-family dwelling.

Even after nine months of international aid and assistance there is much to be done. Residents of Sichuan still live in tent cities, share a bathroom with up to 100 other families, lack any viable heat in their homes, have no running water in the current shelters and no cooking facilities…

(Four People per unit share current shelters. DSR plans to build Permanent dwellings for children and families)

(The tents above seen along the river are still serving as dwellings for many of the millions displaced by the earthquake)

Donations may be made using the Chipin connection to the right of this post and inquiries concerning sponsorship of an entire home or dormitory may be made by filling out the form below:

cforms contact form by delicious:days

12 months later, Sichuan still needs your help

admin — Sat, 17 May 2008 15:56:27 +0000

一年之后，四川仍然需要您的帮助

Though progress is being made there are still between 5-7 million people homeless in Sichuan, China and other earthquake affected areas. Below are photos taken over the past year.
虽然重建工程正在进行，但是仍然有5-7百万中国四川和其他受地震影响地区的人民无家可归。以下为去年的照片。

Disaster relief shelters intends to build as many homes as possible for children and elderly residents affected by the devastation.
救灾避难基金会试图为受灾难影响的儿童和老人建造尽可能多的家园。

Disaster Relief Shelters Foundation a registered charity in the US. In short: After visiting China during the relocation of families during the Three Rivers Gorge Dam project I witnessed elderly people dying early or slipping into deep depression after being displaced from their ancestral homes. Many elderly and young survivors of the quake are still in dire need of running water, toilet facilities, cooling areas and quake-proof homes.
救灾避难基金会试图为受灾难影响的儿童和老人建造尽可能多的家园。

I started this foundation to give those who will not be properly assisted by rebuilding efforts. Our first modest goal on the anniversary of the catastrophe is to raise enough money to build 12 homes.
我创办此基金会，为不能很好被帮助的人们提供重建设施。在汶川地震一周年之际，我们的第一个适当目标是集中足够的资金，建造12个家园。

I value and deeply appreciate your support of this life-saving work.
我很重视和深切感谢您对这一拯救生命工作的支持。

Roland Catellier

Founder, Disaster Relief Shelter Foundation, Inc
New Port Richey, Florida, USA

Organizational Goals:

企业目标

Earthquake Relief in the form of housing for those unable to rebuild a home without support or assistance

为需要支持与帮助才能重建家园的地震灾民提供住房