Sichuan Earthquake Update

Archive for May 28th, 2008

Source from http://googlechinablog.com/2008/05/blog-post_22.html. Thanks http://mobchina.blogspot.com for the english translation.

The chart was taken on the 19th June, one week after the WenChuan earthquake during the 3 minutes of silence to remember and mourn for the victims of the catastrophe. It is the data flow of the google searchin engin (in China). It is a clear sign of unity taken voluntarily by all the internet users in China showing a respect and regards for both that had lost the lives and also for all the affected victims. This is truly unprecedented.

TingTing sent one more drawing and her letter to children in Sichuan:

Translate by candice zhou

Today is May 27^th. It’s about half a month since the earthquake.

Many people become “famous” in the earthquake, “Cola boy” Xue Xiao is one of them.  This 17 years old boy, who was buried in the ruins for 80 hours, is famous for the first sentence “I want to drink Cola.” when he was rescued.   Many people came to hospital to see Xue. But for him, the hurts in the earthquake would once recovered, however, the amputated right arm wound never be recovered.  His doctor said,” Xue made the agreement fingerprint of operation by his left hand, at that moment, he didn’t drop a tear.  Yesterday Xue told the journalist, “ I want to go to university.”

press “read more” button to read more…. (more…)

Psychological counselling and school rebuilding are the two big challenges local educational authorities are facing. Before the earthquake, local government has embarked on a plan of bridging the gap of quality and access between urban and rural areas by building central boarding schools for the children from remote rural areas, who can study in Town Centre Schools with better facilities and teaching resources. Now the focus is on assessing how to rebuild schools quickly. It’s likely as the first step, temporary schools will be built in the central areas.

The earthquake has left more than 4000 children orphaned or without proper parental care. There has been huge waves of sympathy from families around China. Many of them also have expressed the willingness to adopt an earthquake orphan. International adoption is not high on the agenda.

Our local correspondents and volunteers also told me the distribution of aids is not even, largely dependent on accessibility. Towns and villages along the main roads have been well covered. However villages difficult to reach need more aids. Some self-organised volunteers with better transport, knowledge and equipments are doing well in filling the gaps.

Wendy Wu

CEO, Mother Bridge of Love

27 May 2008