Sichuan Quake: An Anniversary Update

On 12 May 2008, an earthquake measuring 8.0 struck Wenchuan County in Sichuan province, China, killing some 69,227 people and leaving some 4.8 million people homeless. Some 46.2 million people across 10 provinces were severely affected by the quake.

World Vision Singapore organised a presentation on Tuesday, 5 May 2009 at The Giving Place, National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre. The presenter was Mr Victor Kan, Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Coordinator for Sichuan Quake, who gave a detailed update to some 25 World Vision supporters and donors who attended the presentation.

Mr Kan shared details about World Vision’s long-term rehabilitation phase which includes building schools and permanent shelters, livelihood recovery, educational support for children and disaster risk reduction programmes.

In response to the physical and psychosocial needs of some 9,000 children, World Vision set up 13 Child Friendly Spaces in the quake zone, which allow children to meet, play and express their emotions in a safe environment with trained volunteers.

World Vision’s long-term rehabilitation phase has started since October 2008 and will complete by December 2010.

For a full report of the work World Vision has done and is continuing to do, click here.

To view a 7:44 min video, “From Despair to Hope – China Earthquake One Year On”, select English version or Mandarin version.