ACT member responds to Earthquake

Geneva, May 13, 2008

According to BBC a massive search and rescue operation is under way in China, after an 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck killing at least 12,000 people in Sichuan province, China's Xinhua. But information is sparse and the death toll is likely to soar. 

The ACT CO has just received information from Amity Foundation, the only member of ACT International working extensively in China. They have sent staff yesterday to the affected areas of the quake to assess the situation and plan a response. It is reported that communications and transport links have been destroyed by the quake making access to these areas very difficult. 

Amity Foundation has deployed their staff to Chengdu, 159 kilometers away from the quake center. They report that they are currently discussing plans for a response with their local partners. A lot of homes have collapsed or have been severely damaged, and many people are injured by the quake. People are in urgent need on shelter materials such as tents and relief supplies such as rice, clean water, quilts, clothes, medicines, etc. Today Amity Foundation has set up a local office in Chengdu to start coordinating the relief efforts with their partners.

An ACT appeal is forthcoming and will be sent by the Amity Foundation to the ACT CO within the next 48 hours outlining a response to this disaster. The ACT CO will continue to monitor this situation closely. 

For further information please contact:
ACT Director, John Nduna (phone +41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone + 41 79 203 6055) or 
ACT Programme Officer, Michelle Yonetani (phone +41 22 791 6035 or mobile phone +41 79 285 2916); myo@act-intl.org). 

Media contact:
ACT Acting Communications Officer, Sidney Traynham (phone +41 22 791 6711 or mobile phone +41 79 681 1868)

ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org/

ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.