World Vision: Thousands in urgent need following floods

World Vision is aiming to implement an USD 800,000 relief and rehabilitation programme to respond to severe flooding in China that has already impacted some 37 million people.

Assessment teams have reported families living in difficult circumstances, their homes destroyed or damaged and their rice, corn, soybean, peanut and sugar cane crops decimated. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced. The flooding comes after months of severe drought and for many the destruction of their crops has been a bitter blow from which they will find it hard to recover.

One survivor, 13-year-old Peng Jianxiong, told the assessment team that visited Hunan, that he broke down when he returned home after he and his family fled the heavy: ?Our house was gone. My mind turned blank. I could not stop but cry when I saw my mum.?

He said he hoped his home could be rebuilt stronger than before.

World Vision programme quality director Victor Kan, said: ?Food is urgently needed. It is estimated that the affected communities will suffer from food shortages over the next two to three months. Farmers have been struck twice, first with drought and then floods. Many of them are likely to face total crop failure this year.?

World Vision is planning to reach some 52,000 people in Hunan and Jiangxi with items including rice and other basic food goods as well as provide hundreds of emergency packs that include quilts. Over 8.5 million people in Hunan and 3.1 million in Jiangxi have been affected by the disaster.

Overall, floods have left 175 people dead, 86 missing and 1.64 million people displaced in southern China. Some 37 million people in 13 provinces have been impacted. Economic losses total USD 5.4 billion, according to China?s Ministry of Civil Affairs. More than 38,400 houses were damaged in Hunan and Jiangxi alone.

World Vision?s assessment teams visited Hunan and Jiangxi provinces and will be coordinating a response with provincial government counterparts.

As part of an initial small-scale response the teams handed out child friendly kits of toys, to give children something to do while their parents try to rebuild their lives.

To arrange media interviews, please contact:

Annie Lo, Communications Officer, World Vision China
Email: annie_lo@wvi.org
Phone: +852 23096152 or +852 92087622

Shirley Kimmayong, HEA Communications Advisor ? Asia Pacific
Email: shirley_kimmayong@wvi.org
Phone: +63 917 822 2579