Assistance to Flood Affected

Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: US$ 515,634

Torrential rains from 31 May to 6 June have again triggered flooding which has turned vast areas of southern China into muddy lakes, razed mountain villages and destroyed more than 76,000 housing units and damaged 234,000 units according to OCHA. From early April heavy rains had lashed provinces/municipalities across southern China including among others Hunan, Guizhou and Sichuan. As of 6 June 2005 over 17-million people had been affected by floods, including many who lost their homes or were forced to flee the flooded areas.

According to China’s Meteorological Bureau, strong rainfall is expected to pound the Yangtze River, China’s longest river, in the coming ten days triggering more floods and landslides. The usual rainy season for the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River will follow immediately after. Local authorities across the country have been ordered to mobilise resources to battle the floods and ensure major rivers and reservoirs are not breached.

ACT International member the Amity Foundation is planning to assist the most vulnerable people affected by the flooding in Xinshao, Lianyuan, Anhua and Xinhua Counties in Hunan Province and Qingzhen Counties in Guizhou Province. These locations have been selected as they are the areas worst affected by the flooding with Xinshao county being the most severely hit where the worst mountain torrents in local history have left scores dead and thousands homeless.

Amity plans to assist through provision of medicines against water borne diseases, food rice, quilts, mosquito nets, reconstruction materials for 400 houses and six schools and assist in the reconstruction of 5,000 metres of irrigation canals.

An Evaluation, planned under ASCN-41, is still pending. The latest responses to the recurring floods in the southern China will be reviewed in this process.

Project Completion Date: 30 June 2006

Total Appeal Target(s): 521,634
Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd.: 6,000
Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: 515,634

Signed by:
White Rakuba
Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office