Assistance to Flood Affected

Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: US$ 501,982

One month into China’s rainy season and flood related losses across the country are already into the billions of dollars. Floodwaters and landslides have inundated and leveled hundreds of thousands of homes, flattened millions of hectares of standing harvest and decimated the livestock in 22 provinces. Over three million people have had to be evacuated.

Severe flooding (the worst in 100 years) devastated Guangxi Zhuan Autonomous Region between 18 – 17 June claiming 54 lives and causing economic damage in excess of 840 million US$. Continuous rainfall over the past two weeks has affected over seven million people and all the major rivers in the area are flowing well above danger level. 45,000 houses have been destroyed along with 410,000 hectares of farmland. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the main reason for devastation of houses is the poor quality of construction materials. Many of the farmers are unable to afford proper materials such as cement, consequently, many houses are built of mud-based sealant which is unable to stand up to flood waters. Many of the people most affected are subsistence farmers who are being pushed further into poverty and destitution, not only because of the massive loss of crops, but also the lost of their livestock.

Based on weather patterns over the past years, the rainy season is expected to continue until the end of August causing more problems in flood-prone areas across the country.

ACT Appeal ASCN52, originally issued 21 June, is being revised to include an emergency response to the flooding in Guangxi Zhuan Autonomous Region. The relief and rehabilitation components as mentioned in the original appeal for flood affected people in Hunan and Guizhou Province have not changed, but relief for selected areas in Guangxi Zhuan Autonomous Region has been included to enable Amity to provide the support where it is mostly needed.

An advance of US$ 40,000 is being taken from the Rapid Response Fund to be replenished from the appeal. However, funding for the ASCN52 Appeal is very low and we therefore strongly urge our donors to consider funding this very urgent request.

Project Completion Date: 30 June 2006

Total Appeal Target(s): 575,902
Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd.: 73,920
Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: 501,982

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