INTRODUCTION

A massive earthquake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale struck eastern Sichuan Province on Monday, 12 May 2008 at 2:28 PM. More than 120 million people in Sichuan and the adjoining provinces of Gansu, Chongqing, Yunnan, and Shaanxi, many living in rural and mountainous areas, were exposed to the moderate and severe shaking effects of the earthquake.

Immediately following the earthquake, the Chinese government, with direction from top leadership, launched a huge and well-coordinated rescue and relief operation.

As of 16 July, the death toll stood at 69,197, with 374,176 injured, and 12,263 missing and presumed to be buried under tons of rubble. The earthquake, which is estimated to have affected over 45 million people, left 5 million people homeless. Damage to basic infrastructure, including roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, and over 300,000 homes has been widespread. The earthquake also damaged 34,000 water distribution facilities, including 29,300 km of Sichuan’s water distribution systems.

   

 

 
   
     
 
Video
Reconstructing Lives after the Earthquake
Help for China's schools
Psycho-social support to children
 
     
 
Field Visit to Sichuan quake zones

Ambassadors of the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF, Ms Miriam Yeung, Ms Charlie Young and Mr Louis Koo traveled to the quake zones in Sichuan. They have visited pre-fabricated classrooms, UNICEF-supported Child Friendly Spaces, water supply systems and tents in the most-ravaged communities. The field visit has been filmed and will be broadcast at Jade Channel from 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm on 1 August (Monday).
 
     
 

Since the establishment of UNICEF in 1946, we have been working specifically for children. Hong Kong Committee extends the missions to raise local awareness of the Convention on the Rights of Child and to help them develop their full potential.