Action by Churches Together (ACT)
Alert - China
Hunan Province - Torrential Rains and Hail Storms
Geneva,  18 April 2002


>From 1 - 7 April 2002 torrential rains and hail storms swept across Hunan
Province, affecting 52 counties and causing loss of life, damage to
property and infrastructure.  According to official statistics provided by
the Civil Affairs Department of Hunan Province:


Loss of life - 9  with 1,047 persons injured

7,900,000 persons were affected with 3,920,000 severely affected Crops
affected - 255,000 hectares, with 129,000 hectares seriously damaged and
23,000 hectares of crops totally destroyed Houses destroyed - 15,000 room
units and 185,000 units lost the roofing or were badly damaged 1,482
families suffered total destruction of their houses.

Trees were blown down in the storms and communication facilities, bridges
and roads were either destroyed or severely damaged.  Damage is estimated
at around US$ 84.5 million.

Impact on human life is great as the affected are mostly rural farmers
living from hand to mouth (average annual income per capita of about US$
109).  Many have had their spring plants destroyed and cannot afford new
seeds or seedlings.  Families who have lost their homes also lost all
their possessions in the rush of waters.  With no money to rebuild their
homes they lack shelter, immediate food (rice), clothing and quilts (it is
still extremely cold in the mountainous areas).

The local government has allocated about US$ 383,969 mainly to restore
communication lines and rebuild damaged roads and bridges.  The local
authorities are also distributing food rice among the most severely
affected and the public has been called upon to donate clothing and
quilts.  However, the needs are great and beyond the capacity of the local
authorities.

ACT member the Amity Foundation plans to provide assistance for 1,500 of
the most vulnerable families (around 6,000 persons) in the worst affected
Miao minority county.  Assistance will consist of 35 kilos of food rice
and one quilt to each household, as well as 3,500 tiles to each of the 102
households without roofs over their heads.

ACT CO will send US$ 35,000 from the Rapid Response fund but, as RRF funds
are low, specific donations to cover the US$ 35,000 would be highly
appreciated.


Thank you for your attention.

For further information please contact:

ACT Director, Thor-Arne Prois (phone ++41 22 791 6032 or mobile phone ++
41 79 203 6055)

ACT Appeals Officer, Mieke Weeda (phone ++41 22 791 6035)


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Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide alliance of churches and
their related agencies, meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency
response.  The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of
Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.
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   Ecumenical Centre                          Phone: ++41-22-791.60.33
   150, route de Ferney                         Fax: ++41-22-791.65.06
   P.O. Box 2100                             E-Mail: act@wcc-coe.org
   1211 Geneva 2                              Telex: 415 730 OIK CH
   Switzerland                                 http://www.act-intl.org


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