OCHA Situation Report No. 3
China: Earthquake
15 May 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

NOTE: This report is based on information received from the office of the 
United Nations Resident Coordinator in China, the media, as well as other 
partners.

Situation

1. On 12 May 2008 a major earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter Scale 
struck Wenchuan County, Aba Prefecture some 92 km northwest of Chengdu 
city, the capital of Sichuan Province. The earthquake took place at 14:48 
Beijing-time and tremors were felt as far as Wuhan, Shanghai and Beijing.

2. According to Xinhua News, the confirmed death toll is 19,509 people. An 
additional 102,103 people were injured; 12,300 people buried in rubble; 
and 13,400 people have been pulled out alive from the debris. 571,400 
houses have collapsed and 279,900 houses destroyed in the provinces of 
Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi, Chongqing, Yunnan and Hubei according to 
statistics released on 13 May. From these figures, it is estimated that 
approximately 2.5 million people may be affected.

3. The Environmental Monitoring Report provided by the Ministry of 
Environmental Protection (MEP) confirms that the destruction of two 
facilities located in Shifang City resulted in the leak of sulfuric acid 
and liquid ammonia. Subsequently, MEP conducted emergency rescue 
activities and has increased the monitoring frequency in the five river 
sections.

4. Another official statement was released by MEP regarding the nuclear 
and radiation status in Sichuan Province, stating that after the 
earthquake, all operating nuclear facilities within Sichuan had been shut 
down safely, and an emergency preparedness plan for nuclear and radiation 
safety had been launched. A nuclear and monitoring team conducted 
environmental monitoring at the sites, reportedly finding no leakage of 
radioactive substance.

5. MEP also reported that nearly 400 dams suffered damage from the 
earthquake. Although the Chinese media voiced special concern regarding 
the stability of Zipingpu dam, the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources 
officially stated that experts assessed the safety of the dam and 
confirmed that the dam was 'stable and safe.' Local water resource 
authorities are continuing their efforts to ensure dam safety.

Needs

6. For the first time since 1998, the Government of China is actively 
welcoming assistance from the international community. Currently, the 
Government has indicated that cash and in-kind contributions are 
preferred, especially tents, medicine, first aid kits, ready-to-eat food, 
tarpaulins, blankets, clothing, flashlights and emergency lanterns. Tents 
are a top priority.

7. The mountainous topography of the affected area has made transportation 
difficult and access challenging. A large number of people and equipment 
are needed to unblock roads and to clear debris. Additional rescue 
equipment is critically needed due to the large number of affected people 
and poor weather conditions. The close monitoring of environmental risks, 
due to leaks of sulfuric acid and liquid ammonia from damaged industrial 
facilities, including potential damage to nuclear sites and dams in the 
affected area, is a high priority. National Response

8. Chinese President Hu Jintao has called for 'all-out' efforts to rescue 
the victims; Premier Wen Jiabao traveled to the affected area of 
Doujiangyan on 12 May and immediately set up a National Disaster Relief 
Headquarters. The highest level of emergency response was activated 
according to the National Plan on Emergency Response for Disaster Relief 
by the National Committee for Disaster Reduction. The army, armed police 
and paramilitary forces, rescue and medical teams, and relief supplies 
have been continuously dispatched. The Ministry of Civil Affairs has 
dispatched 127,580 tents; 222,000 blankets; and 170,000 clothing garments. 
Publication donations of more than US$ 125 million (approximately 877 
million yuan) have been raised from as of 14 May 2008.

9. According to state media reports quoted through Agence France-Presse 
(AFP), Premier Wen Jiabao has ordered 90 more helicopters and 30,000 
troops to be deployed to the earthquake zone, stating that the battle to 
save lives was the top priority.

10. The Ministry of Commerce will convene a donors' briefing meeting on 16 
May in which plans for receiving multilateral and bilateral assistance for 
earthquake disaster relief will be introduced. A representative from the 
Ministry of Civil Affairs is also expected to give an overview of the 
earthquake disaster situation.

International Response

12. The Office of the UN Resident Coordinator sent letters to the 
Ministries of Commerce, Civil Affairs, and Foreign Affairs expressing 
condolences, recognition of the Government's lead role and effective first 
response, and assurances that the United Nations stands ready to support. 
Press releases were sent out on 14 and 15 May to express solidarity with 
the Government and people and inform the public of the UN's response.

13. Follow-up letters were sent to the Ministries detailing technical 
support from OCHA, including 35 Rescue Teams and an UNDAC (United Nations 
Disaster Assessment and Coordination) team on stand-by. Subsequently, 
based on conversations with the Government of China, the UNDAC team has 
stood down since 14 May. A letter was also sent to the Ministry of 
Environmental Protection (MEP) to inform of assistance available from 
UNEP/OCHA on potential environmental risks.

14. Following the announcement by the Government of China regarding 
international assistance, the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator and 
the United Nations Disaster Management Team (UNDMT) convened a Heads of 
Agencies meeting on 14 May to develop a common, coordinated UN approach. 
It was decided that the UNDMT, under the guidance of the RC, will function 
as a focal point and clearing house for information exchange related to 
the earthquake and will track requests made to UN agencies from Government 
of China counterparts as well as on assistance planned and provided by UN 
agencies and the international community.

15. The Office of the UN Resident Coordinator will submit an initial US$ 
50,000 Emergency Cash Grant request to purchase assistance items for 
victims. UNDP will apply for TRAC 3 funding to strengthen the RC Office 
and UNDMT coordination capacities. In addition, the UN agencies will 
provide in-kind contributions of ready-to-eat food, tents, blankets, 
school kits, and reproductive health supplies.

16. A CERF (Central Emergency Response Fund) grant is expected to be 
released to augment relief activities conducted by the UN system on the 
ground and will be closely coordinated with the Government of China's 
response.

17. Although the deployment of experts and professional personnel was not 
recommended by the Government of China due to limited local coordination 
capacities and transportation bottlenecks, there have been media reports 
of rescue teams deployed. A team of 29 Russian rescuers and medics are 
expected to depart tonight to participate in search and rescue operations 
as well as a 60 member Japanese rescue team to arrive on 16 May. A joint 
mission (ECHO/EC) has been deployed to the area, which landed in Chengdu. 
A decision is expected soon on further interventions by the Government of 
China.

Coordination

18. The National Disaster Reduction Centre of China in the Department of 
Disaster & Social Relief, Ministry of Civil Affairs, handles national 
disaster response coordination.

19. UN support to the Government is coordinated by the UN Resident 
Coordinator (UNRC) and assisted by the UN and partners Disaster Management 
Team (UNDMT). The OCHA Regional Office in Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) in 
Bangkok is liaising closely with both the UNDMT and the China Earthquake 
Administration.


Contacts

Ms. Yin Yin Nwe, UNICEF Representative and Chair,
UNDMT-China
E-mail: ynwe@unicef.org , Tel: +86-10-65-323-131,
Mobile: +86-13-801-009-447

Mr. Terje Skavdal, Head of OCHA Regional Office
for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP)
E-mail: skavdal@un.org, Tel: + 66 2288 2425,
Mobile: +66 81 916 1276

Mr. Rajan Gengaje, Regional Disaster Response
Advisor, OCHA ROAP
E-mail: gengaje@un.org, Tel: + 66 2288 2572,
Mobile: +66 81 916 1271

This situation report, together with further
information on ongoing emergencies, is also
available on Relief Web http://www.reliefweb.int

A Situation Map of the earthquake is also
available on ReliefWeb
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/JOPA-7ENA95?OpenDocument

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:

(New York)
Ms. Agnes Asekenye-Oonyu, Chief,
Asia and the Pacific Section
Tel: +1 212 963 1773
Mobile: +1 917 476 6164
E-mail: asekenye-oonyu@un.org

Ms. Ah-Young Kim
Desk Officer, Asia and the Pacific Section
Tel: +1 212 963 5131
Mobile: +1 917 349 5109
E-mail: kima@un.org

(Geneva)
Mr. Alfred Nabeta
Humanitarian Affairs Officer,
Geographical Coordination and Monitoring Section
Tel: +41 22 917 2732
Mobile: +79 445 3382
E-mail: nabeta@un.org

Press contact:

(Geneva)
Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
Tel. +41 22 917 2653
E-mail: byrs@un.org

(New York)
Ms. Stephanie Bunker
Tel. +1 917 367 5126
E-mail: bunker@un.org

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