World Vision China is sending two emergency response teams to Guangxi and Jiangxi provinces to carry out a needs assessment after days of heavy rain caused flooding and landslides in southern China.

Early reports from Du'an County, Guangxi say many townships and villages suffered crop damage in low lying areas but schools, homes, roads and basic infrastructure remain undamaged. World Vision will launch a response according to the scale of needs determined by the assessment.

State news reported more than 39 million people have been affected across 12 provinces and regions from rural areas where crops and homes have been damaged or destroyed to urban centres where city dwellers struggle to cope with overflowing rivers and drains.

World Vision's Regional Vice President Watt Santatiwat said: "Seasonal floods often have hidden effects on children. We must not grow accustomed to the fact that floods force children to evacuate their homes, affect school attendance, and erode family income."

"In southern China an overwhelming amount of people have seen their homes damaged or destroyed by landslides or floods. Roads have washed away making it unsafe for children to travel to school. Hundreds of thousands of people have evacuated into temporary shelter and are in need of food and safe drinking water," he continued.

State media reported hundreds of thousands of people have evacuated their homes. The death toll has reached 75, while 13 people remain missing. Estimated economic losses are at 1.9 billion USD.

World Vision China will begin providing assistance to 5,265 people in Suining County, Hunan after flooding began in early June. A total of 78,975 kg of rice and 50 Child Friendly Kits will be distributed.

For further information or interviews, please contact: ------------------------------------------------ Victor Kan ========== Humanitarian & Emergency Affairs Director - stationed in Hong Kong Email: Victor_Kan@wvi.org Office: +852 2309 6161 Mobile: +852 9181 9586(Hong Kong)

Meimei Leung ============ Senior Humanitarian & Emergency Affairs Officer - stationed in China Email: Meimei_Leung@wvo.org Mobile: +8613821293179 (China mobile) Mobile +85293275674 (Hong Kong mobile)