China earthquake
China is still recovering from the most devastating earthquake of recent times
The earthquake that hit China on 12 May measured 8.0 on the Richter scale. For weeks, aftershocks, landslides and mudslides still threatened the surviving communities.
At the epicentre was Wenchuan County in Sichuan Province, where up to 80% of the buildings were destroyed. Seven provinces were affected. The earthquake was felt in Beijing - and even 18,000km away in Bangkok. Thousands of adults and children were left trapped under mounds of debris.At the time of writing, official statistics have declared more than 69,000 people dead, 370,000 injured and 18,000 still missing.
The government responded rapidly and deployed over 50,000 troops in an immediate search and rescue operation but the devastation was so immense that the government asked Save the Children to support their work and help local organisations protect children and provide healthcare and education.
Children have been badly affected. The earthquake hit at 2.28pm on a school day, meaning thousands of schools collapsed or suffered severe damage while children were still inside. More than 10,000 children lost their lives and those who survived have witnessed the death or injury of family members, friends and teachers. Thousands of children have lost one or both parents.
What Save the Children is doing
In an emergency, our priority is to keep children safe, in a community they know, with people they know. From there, we can make sure they have food, water and shelter, and get them involved in normal activities again as soon as possible.
"People will have seen the fantastic job the government is doing in meeting basic needs. Save the Children's role is to add the expertise and experience we have gained from around the world, and from inside China itself, to help rebuild children’s confidence and wellbeing," says Wyndham James, our Country Director. "It's important that we leave a legacy of learning, for the future, about how to help children and families rebuild their lives."
Children need to play, learn and get help to express themselves to be able to overcome their experiences. We've set up six spaces where they can come and play safely with other children while their parents try to rebuild their lives. So far, 990 children have benefited from these areas in Mianzhu, Qingchuan and An counties. We'll be setting up another ten spaces throughout the affected areas.
We're supplying temporary schools with desks, blackboards, chairs and other equipment, and training teachers to give children emotional support. So far, we've reached more than 11,000 school children. We're also working with local community groups to provide younger, pre-school children with care and activities.
We've set up a health programme for children under two and built baby-bathing stations where mothers can get clean water and just spend time with their babies, away from their camps. Our first baby-bathing station opened on 12 June and 60 babies were brought in on its first day. We'll construct five more stations where we'll keep giving out towels, baby powder, baby food, mosquito nets and information on health and hygiene.
Watch a short clip of our work:
What you can do
We urgently need your help today. Support our work by making a donation.
More information
Read three-year-old Pu Ben's story and hear from Jiang Xiantao, 11, who was at school when an earthquake struck.
Photos from China:
On 12 May China experienced a devastating earthquake, measuring 8 on the Richter scale. The earthquake hit at 2.28 pm on a school day. Thousands of schools have either collapsed or been left severely damaged.
A baby sleeps in a makeshift bed within the displaced peoples centre in Mianyang, Sichuan, China.
A child reads a comic in their makeshift bed within the displaced peoples centre in Mianyang, Sichuan, China.
Li Youshi, one and a half years old, walks by fresh water supplies at the displaced peoples centre in Mianyang, Sichuan, China.
Children sit in their makeshift home at the displaced peoples centre in Mianyang, Sichuan, China.
Li Changjie, 12, at a makeshift home at the displaced peoples centre in Mianyang, Sichuan, China.
Yang Wenguang, 9, lies in her makeshift bed at the displaced peoples centre in Mianyang, Sichuan, China.
Li Yue, 6, stands in the doorway of the displaced peoples centre in Mianyang, Sichuan, China.
Yang Wenguang, 9, sits on the steps at the displaced peoples centre in Mianyang, Sichuan, China.
Li Yanqing, 11, lies in her bed in a makeshift home at the displaced peoples centre in Mianyang, Sichuan, China. Photo: Qilai Shen/Panos/Save the Children
A young girl lies in her bed in a makeshift home at the displaced peoples centre in Mianyang, Sichuan, China. Photo: Qilai Shen/Panos/Save the Children
Childen queue for food distribution at the displaced peoples centre in Mianyang, Sichuan, China. Photo: Qilai Shen/Panos/Save the Children
