UPDATE II:
The New York Times reports that relief and rescue efforts continue in Sichuan Province, the epicenter of the earthquake that struck Sunday morning with a magnitude of 7 — according to the Times. Other sources have reported magnitudes between 6.6 and 7.
The piece otherwise focuses on how “a flood of donations from across the country” are coming in, but, “in contrast to the pattern after a major quake in the same region five years ago, those eager to bolster relief efforts are looking to donate to private charity organizations, not to official groups that now have a reputation for corruption.”
This because “a 2011 scandal that struck a serious blow to China’s nascent notions of philanthropy, especially philanthropy guided by the government.”
Read more here
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UPDATE I (From the BBC):
China is continuing a massive rescue operation in Sichuan province, deploying thousands of workers, after a powerful earthquake on Saturday.
Rescue workers are using dynamite and heavy equipment to get through roads blocked by landslides to reach remote areas, reports say.
But reaching these areas has been a struggle, with bad weather and powerful aftershocks contributing to delays.
At least 188 people are known to have died in the quake, says state media.
More than 11,500 others have also been reported injured since the 6.6 magnitude quake struck at 08:02 local time (00:02 GMT).
More than 18,000 soldiers and police have been mobilised in the rescue efforts, state news agency Xinhua said on Sunday.
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Original Post:
The BBC reports that a powerful, 6.6 magnitude earthquake has struck Sichuan province in south-west China killing at least 160 people and injuring at least 5,700.
A devastating earthquake struck the same region five years ago
Villages close to the epicentre in Lushan county were left in ruins.
The rescue operation is being hampered by collapsed roads, broken telephone lines and regular aftershocks.
Thousands of troops have been sent to Sichuan, and Premier Li Keqiang has arrived in the area.
“The current most urgent issue is grasping the first 24 hours since the quake’s occurrence, the golden time for saving lives,” Mr Li was quoted as saying by Xinhua state news agency.
Rescuers have been able to pull some bodies and survivors from the rubble of devastated villages.
There have been at least 710 aftershocks, further damaging buildings and leaving them dangerous.
Power and water supplies have been knocked out in Lushan county.
‘Everything collapsed’
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Correspondents said almost 30,000 rescuers had begun work in the quake zone. The Chinese premier was flown to Ya’an by helicopter as soon as he arrived in Sichuan, Xinhua reported.
Aircraft had begun flying over the area to assess the damage and deliver supplies.
Read more here.
Secretary of State John Kerry released the following statement:
I join the American people in expressing our sincere condolences for the loss of life and devastation wrought by today’s earthquake in Sichuan Province. The United States stands ready to support the international response to this disaster. To those affected by this tragedy and to all the people of China, we send our heartfelt sympathies.
Secretary Kerry also announced — following his meetings with Syrian Coalition President al-Khatib, members of the Coalition’s leadership, and international partners supporting the Syrian opposition — that the United States intends to double non-lethal assistance to the Syrian opposition, as well as provide additional humanitarian aid to Syrians in need.
The new non-lethal assistance underscores the United States’ firm support for a political solution to the crisis in Syria and for the opposition’s advancement of an inclusive, tolerant vision for a post-Assad Syria. The United States will work with the Syrian Coalition and other opposition representatives to determine how the new $123 million in non-lethal assistance can best support their efforts to meet the needs of the Syrian people and lead the way to a political transition that will bring an end to this conflict, and build the inclusive, democratic Syria that its people deserve. This new pledge brings our total non-lethal assistance to the Syrian opposition and civil society groups to $250 million.
The United States will also use a portion of this non-lethal assistance to implement President Obama’s directive to provide an expanded range of support to the Supreme Military Council (SMC). We intend to expand this new support beyond military food rations and medical kits to include other types of non-lethal supplies, which would be determined in collaboration with SMC leadership.
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In recognition of the devastating humanitarian situation as a result of the crisis in Syria, Secretary Kerry also announced nearly $25 million in additional food assistance for the Syrian people. This aid will provide 25,500 metric tons of wheat – providing four months’ supply of flour to over one million people – as well as food rations for those inside Syria and refugees in Jordan affected by the violence.
The United Nations World Food Program will begin distributing the wheat to those in need in all 14 Syrian governorates as quickly as possible. The United States is the largest donor of food assistance both within Syria and for refugees in the affected neighboring countries and is providing a total of over $409 million in humanitarian assistance for the Syrian crisis.
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Image: www.shutterstock.com
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.