World Vision has so far spent more than a quarter of a million US dollars on food aid for 130,000 Chinese as part of an almost US$2 million response, following the worst snow storms to hit the country in decades.

Hundreds of power generators are also being provided to villagers across Guangxi, Guizhou, and Jiangxi as part of World Vision's response in central, eastern and southern China.

So far two million kilogrammes of rice has been handed out in Anhui, Jiangxi and Hunan.

Assessment teams found some 60,000 people are currently experiencing power shortages. The teams decided that two hundred power generators worth US$135,000 were essential to help villagers cope with winter conditions.

World Vision's initial response to the snow storms included the distribution of some 80,000 quilts and food items prior to the Chinese New Year. The rebuilding of damaged homes and schools is now the focus of the aid response. Information about need continues to flow in as access to remote communities opens up.

Wei Shanhui, a 51 year old farmer in Fushang Village, Xiangzhou, is just one of millions whose livelihoods or houses have been destroyed in the worst storms of his lifetime. He has lost his crop of sugar cane, which represents a years' income for him and his family of six.

Gratefully collecting a quilt from the World Vision relief distribution in Shuijing Township, Wei showed surprising resilience and optimism, saying "With this quilt to keep us warm in the cold, we can have a happy new year. We hope we can resume our farm work as soon as the snowstorm passes. Hopefully if we work very hard we will at least have a good harvest next year."

Reports from China say that the deadly string of blizzards have affected a total of 21 provinces, leading to the death of 107 people. An estimated 354,000 houses collapsed, leaving 1.5 million people in need of alternative accommodation in temporary shelters. The direct economic loss is reported to be US$15 billion, including massive crop damage.

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