Warm clothing, tents among urgent priorities for China’s quake-affected children – UN

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said today it is preparing to dispatch warm clothing, school tents and supplies to help youngsters affected by last week’s earthquake in western China who are at particular risk from sub-zero temperatures in the area.

The 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck remote Yushu prefecture in China’s Qinghai province on 14 April killed over 1,700 people, according to a news release issued by UNICEF, which added that some 256 people are still missing and 12,128 others are injured.

Some 6,870 people have been rescued from debris in the town of Jiegu, where 85 per cent of the buildings have been destroyed, rendering 100,000 residents homeless.

UNICEF is especially worried about the immediate danger to children from cold weather, as many residents of Jiegu – located on the 4,000-metre high Tibetan plateau – sleep in the open in sub-zero temperatures.

“This earthquake hit one of China’s very poor and remote communities,” said Yin Yin New, UNICEF Representative and Chair of the UN Disaster Management Team. “We are concerned about the impact on children and their families.”

The agency, at the request of relevant authorities, will dispatch 5,000 sets of warm children’s clothing, 150 school tents and 2,000 blankets. It is also preparing to supply 2,000 children’s winter boots, 5,000 student kits and shoulder bags, 500 blackboards, ambulances, generators and medical equipment.

Local authorities estimate that 80 per cent of primary schools and 50 per cent of secondary schools in Yushu have been severely damaged. The casualties include 103 children and 12 teachers, with another 684 injured.

“Schools in the affected area have suffered extensive damage and we will support the Government’s efforts to ensure that transitional facilities are set up,” said Dr. New.

“Following disasters such as this it is important that children can return to normalcy as soon as possible. We have evidence from the Sichuan earthquake that going back to school with appropriate psycho-social support helps children recover.”

On 12 May 2008, the southwest Chinese province of Sichuan was struck by an 8.0-magnitude earthquake, the country’s worst in three decades, leaving nearly 100,000 people either dead or missing, and almost 400,000 others injured.

Local health authorities in Qinghai province have also said there is an urgent need for medical supplies and childbirth equipment, as the maternal and child health hospital in Yushu collapsed in the quake.