ACT Alliance Alert: Yiliang earthquake, China

Alert  

China

Yiliang Earthquake

Geneva, 11 September 2012

1.    Brief description of the emergency and impact

An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale hit the Yilang County of the Yunnan province at 11:19 am on 7 September 2012, Beijing Time. Hundreds of aftershocks have been experienced in the same areas during the following days. To add to the misery, incessant rainfall has started in the earthquake affected areas since 10 September, which adds to the induced numerous landslides, added to the plight of people and made the relief and rescue operations challenging.

Reportedly, 81 people have died and 821 got injured. 201,000 people have been evacuated and total affected population comes around 750,000. Thousands of houses, especially in rural areas have been totally damaged. The public facilities including schools, roads, communication, and irrigation system have been severely damaged. A detailed assessment of losses is still underway. However, the aftershocks, heavy rains, landslide, as well as the cold weather have been posing serious survival challenges to the affected population.

2.    Why is an ACT response needed

The earthquake has impacted a very poor area. Although it is not a big disaster, yet given the poverty of the people, they have inadequate resilience and local resources to come out of the crisis on their own. There has been serious damage to the houses and infrastructure. Although the central government has already provided some rehabilitation materials, but there is still a huge gap, both in crisis and post crisis phase.

3.    National and international response

Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Yiliang in the afternoon of September 7th, and supervised the relief work in the affected areas. The central and local government, as well as Chinese NGOs have allocated tents, warm clothes, quilts, beds, instant noodles, bottle water, etc. to quake areas. However, because of the limited road condition after the earthquake, these materials have not been arrived, especially in rural areas.

4.    ACT Alliance response and planned activities

Two staff from Amity Emergency Response Team (AERT) have been deployed to Yiliang County on 8 September. Together with the local partner the AERT have transported and distributed 20 tons of rice to survivors in Qiaoshan Township, Yiliang County on September 9th, which was the first big support in quake areas. The AERT are still conducting assessment work in different villages in Yiliang County.

According to the preliminary information collected by AERT, the affected people are in most need of food, potable water and other daily commodities. Also, taking into consideration the damage caused by the earthquake so far, rehabilitation and reconstruction activities are foreseen. An appeal is being planned to assist people with the most limited resources in the affected areas.

5.    Constraints

Due to heavy rainfall, there have been major breaches in some roads leading to the affected areas, and that may pose some challenges in transportation. The military is working hard to repair it and it is likely that the problem would be addressed soon.

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jean-Daniel Birmele, Director of Finance (jbi@actalliance.org)