ACT Situation Report

China 01/06

China floods

ACT appeal ASCN61 – Assistance to Flood-affected

Geneva, August 25, 2006

Information provided by ACT member Amity Foundation

The latest disaster - Typhoon Saomai

Typhoon Saomai has caused serious losses in Fujian and Zhejiang Provinces.

In Fujian, as of August 17: 1.455 million people were affected, 215 people dead, 157 people missing, and 710,000 people evacuated; 68,100 hectares of crops were affected; 103,000 houses collapsed, and 361,000 houses damaged; the direct economic losses have reached 6.35 billion Yuan.

In Zhejiang, as of August 18: 3.456 million people were affected, 193 people dead, and 11 people missing; 103,200 hectares of crops were affected; 39,000 houses collapsed, and 327,000 houses damaged; the direct economic losses total 12.73 billion Yuan (including 3.51 billion Yuan in agriculture losses).

Guangxi disaster

From the end of May to early August, Guangxi experienced seven periods of strong rainfall, each resulting in floods of different degrees. These caused serious economic losses. On July 9-10 and 16-17, Pubei County experienced two severe storms. Across ten days, the rainfall in the whole county reached 772 mm, 44.5 percent of the average rainfall for an entire year and setting a record. These heavy rains caused landslides and mudslides and resulted in the deaths of 23 people; one person is missing, and 884,862 people were affected. Direct economic losses for the whole county reached 317.62 million Yuan.

Fangtian village in Guandong town, in a remote part of Pubei county, suffered from severe losses – of the total population of 2,720 people, 1,350 people were affected, and five people died. On August 13, the Amity Foundation distributed relief materials to 174 households in Guandong town. These materials included 174 sets of blankets, 174 mosquito nets, 174 sets of bed sheets, 174 bed mats, 120 barrels of cooking oil (2.5 liters each) and 9,000 kg of rice. In addition, the Amity Foundation distributed 18,117 kg of rice in Hepu County and 20,161 kg of rice in Guiping city. Those who received these items were families whose houses had collapsed or were unsafe.

In Fozilu village, located in Fangtian administrative village, mudslides which had resulted from strong rainfall destroyed most of the houses, croplands and roads. In this village of 31 families, the houses of 13 families have completely collapsed, and the rest have suffered damage of various degrees. Currently 25 families are homeless, and more than 60 villagers are living and eating together in a simple tent – a wooden structure topped with plastic sheeting that is 80 square meters. Although this temporary shelter manages to keep out the wind and rain, it is a crowded space that is not suitable for the long-term, especially with many elderly people and young children among those living there. Relief materials from the Amity Foundation, with the support of ACT, have been distributed. However, the food that was also distributed is enough to last for only one month, and the material needs of villagers are larger. With the weather gradually cooling, the villagers’ biggest wish is for people to help them reconstruct their homes.