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May 15, 2008 ASIA AND PACIFIC ALLIANCE OF YMCAs EMERGENCY RESPONSE UPDATES ~ CHINA EARTHQUAKE IN SICHUAN , CHINA
¡¨About 10 million people in Sichuan province have been directly affected by the 7.9 quake that flattened entire villages, state media said. Nearly 15,000 people are known to have been killed, and another 26,000 are still trapped in the rubble.¡¨ BBC News online, 15 May 2008 From media reports and our letter to Ms. Jin Wei, Atg. National General Secretary, YMCA of China, you are aware of the devastation caused by the earthquake in south-western Sichuan on 12th May. The intensity of the quake was so great that it was felt as far away as Beijing and the Thai capital, Bangkok . It was the worst to strike China since the Tangshan earthquake in 1976 that killed more than 240,000 people. Hospitals, factories and other buildings have collapsed killing thousands. Ms. Jin Wei updated me yesterday afternoon about the situation, especially of the Chengdu YMCA. Chengdu is 92km from the epicentre of the earthquake. It is difficult to get precise information about their other work sites or other YMCAs in the affected areas because communication lines and roads have been destroyed. She has also sent the following information received from the Chengdu YMCA General Secretary Ms. Isabella Hua.
She is in Chengdu today to assess the damage of the Chengdu YMCA and the YMCA Primary School . If roads are passable she will also visit the YMCAs in other areas. She will furnish us with a report after the visit. In response to the discussion with Ms. Jin Wei, we are making an initial appeal to support the rehabilitation of the Chengdu YMCA and the YMCA Primary School . We will furnish details as soon as we receive them from Ms. Jin Wei. We will be sending an initial advance of US$5,000 to the National Committee of YMCAs in China for this purpose.
15 May 2008 To: National General Secretaries Dear Colleagues From media reports and our letter to Ms. Jin Wei, Atg. National General Secretary, YMCA of China, you are aware of the devastation caused by the earthquake in south-western Sichuan on 12th May. The intensity of the quake was so great that it was felt as far away as Beijing and the Thai capital, Bangkok . It was the worst to strike China since the Tangshan earthquake in 1976 that killed more than 240,000 people. Hospitals, factories and other buildings have collapsed killing thousands. Ms. Jin Wei updated me yesterday afternoon about the situation, especially of the Chengdu YMCA. Chengdu is 92km from the epicentre of the earthquake. It is difficult to get precise information about their other work sites or other YMCAs in the affected areas because communication lines and roads have been destroyed. She has also sent the following information from the Chengdu YMCA General Secretary Ms. Isabella Hua.
She is in Chengdu today to assess the damage of the Chengdu YMCA and the YMCA Primary School . If roads are passable she will also visit the YMCAs in other areas. She will furnish us with a report after the visit. In response to the discussion with Ms. Jin Wei, we are making an initial appeal to support the rehabilitation of the Chengdu YMCA and the YMCA Primary School . We will furnish details as soon as we receive them from Ms. Jin Wei. We will be sending an initial advance of US$5,000 to the National Committee of YMCAs in China for this purpose. Kindly indicate your pledge of support that should be sent to the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs account. With much thanks and appreciation.
Yip Kok Choong May 13, 2008 12:09 p.m. Dear Mr. Yip Kok Choong and friends, "The Day The Earth Moved" --- this is the headline in today's China Daily. When the earthquake took place yesterday afternoon, even in Shanghai we felt it for a couple of minutes. We tried again and again in contacting Chengdu YMCA, yet failed, as we realized on today's TV report that the telecom and transportation links was cut off. May 13,2008 14:42 p.m. Ms. Jin Wei "ymcachina" <ymcachina@sohu.com> Dear Jin wei It is with sadness and deep regret that we learnt of the earthquake in south western Sichuan yesterday and the deaths and devastation to the area, with thousands more trapped in collapsed buildings. We want to express our condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives, and in solidarity with the YMCAs / YWCAs in China, pray for the safety of those still trapped in collapsed buildings., and those working to rescue them, and relief workers in the affectedc areas. We hope that the YMCA in Chengdu, its staff and members are safe. We would like to receive news about the Chengdu YMCA and other YMCAs/YWCAs in affected areas. Please keep us informed and if there are ways we could be of assistance. With kind regards |
