Snowstorm Relief: What Has Been Done

Amity has put a lot of resources into helping victims of this years’ devastating snowstorm, which hit large parts of China around the Lunar New Year Festival and severely affected some 60 million people. So far we have supported as many as 50,000 people in their efforts to overcome the effects of the 14 January snowstorm.

We have earmarked 4,226,400 RMB (US$ 617,786) for relief and reconstruction in the four provinces of Hunan, Guangxi, Yunnan and Guizhou. To help victims overcome the worst immediate effects, we distributed about 71 tons of rice, 10,860 padded quilts and 5000 sets of warm underwear to the most vulnerable families. Further assistance was provided to people who needed support to rebuild their homes, recover their livelihoods and repair drinking water facilities and irrigation systems. The sheer size of the geographical area affected and the fact that supply lines were interrupted for a long period made Amity’s emergency response a particularly daunting task. Most beneficiaries of our snowstorm-related work live in mountainous areas at levels of around 800 meters above sea level. Many of them have endured severe damage and even complete destruction to their homes, crops and livestock.

In its efforts to raise funds for relief and rehabilitation, Amity has been supported by Action by Churches Together (ACT), the Disaster Relief Fund of the Hong Kong government as well as many other organizations and private donors. Our fundraising work culminated in a gala dinner on 20 April in Hong Kong, during which donations totaling HK$ 642,659 were collected. Reconstruction work is expected to be finished by January 2009. By this time, we will have helped several hundred families to recover their pre-disaster income levels by reconstructing homes, animal pens, greenhouses and drinking water systems.