July 24, 2008

The death toll from the May 12 earthquake centered in Sichuan province, China, now stands at 69,197, Chinese government authorities said today, with 18,209 still missing and 374,176 injured, with nearly 1.49 million residents relocated.

RESPONSE: Church World Service continues its support of the Amity Foundation, an Action By Churches Together (ACT) member, in this response.

In the CWS-supported response, Amity is assisting 20,000 families -- some 75,000 people -- through distribution of mostly non-food items, continued provision of psycho-social care, reconstruction of 500 houses, two primary schools and five village clinics, repair of 20 water systems, provision of emergency preparedness training and cash grants for the purchase of agricultural tools. Work is focused on Beichuan, Mianzhu, Wen Chuan, Shifang, Dujiangyan and Pengzhou counties in Sichuan Province; Wen County in Gansu Province; and Lueyang County in Shaanxi Province.

In a recent update to CWS and other international partner agencies, Amity reported:

The central government has designated 21 provinces and autonomous regions to each be responsible for one heavily hit county for reconstruction and rehabilitation work. Jiangsu Province, where Amity is based, has been assigned to work in Mianzhu County.

Each of the 13 prefectures/cities, along with 5 economically strong counties in Jiangsu, will assist one particular township in Mianzhu. Altogether 18 townships in Mianzhu will be partnership for assistance by 18 cities/counties in Jiangsu.

Amity has decided to focus its long-term efforts on assisting schools with supplies, books and other materials as well as providing help in the construction of communal buildings and infrastructure in some of these towns.

Media Contact: Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676; lcrosson@churchworldservice.org Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526; jdragin@gis.net