China: Quilts rushed to blizzard-affected children

10 February, 2:31 pm

By Echo Chow, World Vision China Senior Communications Officer

Immediately after an assessment by World Vision in late January, 2,000 quilts are on their way to reach Chinese children and their families living in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, who have been hit by the worst blizzard in six decades.

“World Vision also participated in the relief operation of the 2001 snowstorm in Altay. But what we see the situation in Altay here now is even worse,” Louise Chau, a member of World Vision’s assessment team, who has just been back from an assessment visit in Qinghe county and Fuyun county of Altay from 23-28 January, said.

Altay means “place with half year of winter, half year of summer” in local language and winter in Altay normally ends in April. Therefore, a sufficient stock of food, clothing and fodder is critical for local community.

“The snow is so thick that it reaches the level of an adult’s knees, waist or even taller than an adult in some areas. It takes us 20 minutes to complete a journey of only 50 metres, so you can imagine how difficult for us to reach the villagers. In some areas, there are still places inaccessible because many vehicles were stuck in heavy snow. Delivering relief materials is definitely a challenge for us,” continued Louise referring to the many vehicles stuck in the snow.

In Qinghe county alone, the winter this year stands at a temperature of around –28 to –25. “There is not enough food and coal. The vegetable sheds were damaged by the grim weather. The price for vegetable keeps going up that we can’t afford to eat it for a long time. This winter is so hard for us.” Rezhake, a local villager told World Vision in a home visit.

The disaster has claimed at least 20 lives, and left 1,304 people injured. More than 1.5 million people were affected, of whom more than 160,000 have been evacuated, according to the regional Department of Civil Affairs. In addition, over 30,000 houses were ruined and collapsed. Direct economic loss was estimated at RM 323 million (USD 94 million).

World Vision Malaysia supports an Area Development Programme (ADP) in Hotan, Xinjiang. The Child Sponsorship Programme there is not heavily affected by the serious blizzard, there are also no reports of injured children.