Charge de affairs Zhang Yuebang Gave a Press Conference to Ethiopian Media on the Earthquake in China
On May 20, 2008,Mr. Zhang Yuebang, Charge de affairs in the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia gave a press conference to Ethiopian media on the earthquake that hit China. The following is the press release:
A strong quake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale jolted Wenchuan County in southwest China's Sichuan Province on May 12. Tremors were felt across China except two northeastern provinces and the northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region. The quake caused grave loss of life, destroyed towns and roads, and cut off electricity, telecom, transport and water supply.
From May 19, China began a three-day national mourning for the earthquake victims. The national flags fly at half-mast at home and Chinese diplomatic missions abroad. Public recreational activities are halted and the Beijing Olympic torch relay suspended during this mourning period.
ⅠThe latest facts and figures about the quake.
According to the relief headquarters, the national death toll rose to 34,073, and 245,108 people were injured as of 12:00 a.m May 19. 52,934 have been hospitalized nationwide and 7,979 have recovered while 3,304 died in hospital.
In Sichuan Province alone, over 33,570 people were confirmed dead and 5,260 others remained buried. And 60,020 people are rescued from debris and 4.85 million people relocated. 14,207 industrial enterprises suffered 67 billion yuan of direct economic loss in the calamity.
In Sichuan's neighbors, 364 people were reported dead in Gansu Province as of the above-mentioned time, 113 in Shaanxi Province, 16 in Chongqing Municipality, 2 in Henan Province, 1 in Yunnan Province, 1 in Hubei Province and 1 in Hunan Province.
The quake, which also triggered landslides in the mountainous region, damaged 33,300 hectares of farmland, including more than 10,000 hectares of wheat and rape and more than 20,000 hectares of vegetables in 13 worst-hit cities and counties, according to the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture. The disaster also destroyed irritation systems in some areas, and some 100,000 hectares of rice paddies might have to be used to grow alternative crops.
Ⅱ The Rescue and Relief Work
Following the devastating earthquake, the Chinese government has started the rescue and relief without delay. Putting rescue on top of its agenda, the Chinese government is mobilizing the whole nation, including the military, to join the efforts.
Hours after the disaster breakout, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao flew straight to the quake-hit county of Wenchuan to oversee rescue work. In the meantime, relief work headquarters were set up, composed of eight departments and headed by Premier Wen himself.
On May 16, Chinese President Hu Jintao also reached the disaster-stricken province to console victims and inspect the rescue work. He urged the local governments to take quake relief as the most pressing task, and ordered rescuers to reach every quake-hit village by "every available means". He also called for all-out efforts to cure the injured, and beef up hygiene in the quake-hit areas.
So far, the rescuers have reached all the 3,669 stricken villages. Over 100,000-strong army are busy with the relief. Thousands of local officials, medical staff, young volunteers and ordinary citizens are racing against time in the life-saving effort. In Sichuan alone, more than 36,000 medical personnel are on the spot. A total of 122,252 injured have been hospitalized. Due to preemptive measure, no disease outbreaks or emergency public health incidents are reported. 350 tons of disease prevention goods have been transported to the quake zone, along with 300 tons of disinfectants and 100,000 filter masks. China's largest ever psychological service operation is also in full swing for the disaster survivors. At least 300 professional psychologists are soothing the traumatized, the injured and the bereaved.
As of May 18, the Chinese central budget had allocated 5.782 billion yuan (826 million USD) to the relief fund. Some 250,000 tents, 723,500 quilts, 1.78 million clothes as well as food and drinking water had been sent to the hit regions. Civil Aviation Administration of China had dispatched 131 aircraft for relief work. As of May 19, donors at home and abroad had contributed 10.834 billion yuan (1.55 billion U.S. dollars) in cash and goods for disaster relief. The donations are still mounting dramatically.
Ⅲ The International Cooperation For Rescue and Relief
The catastrophe in China draws great attention from the international community. Condolence messages are pouring in from foreign Head of States or Governments, officials from international organizations, and ordinary foreign citizens. Material or financial aid is coming from many countries. The United Nations offered resources from its central emergency response fund and dispatched experts for the rescue operation. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commended China' fast and effective efforts and expressed his full confidence in the Chinese government's capacity to manage the crisis.
Japan, Russia, Singapore, South Korea sent specialized rescue teams to China. The American volunteer group joint hands with the Chinese people in the rescue. Now, foreign medical teams are also coming in.
After the disaster, Ethiopian President Girma Wolde Giorgis, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, and Speaker of the House of the People's Representatives Teshome Toga respectively sent the message of condolence to the Chinese Government. In the recent days, senior officials from various governmental agencies of Ethiopia, and diplomatic missions and international organizations in Addis Ababa have come to the Chinese Embassy to show their sympathy.
On behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I would express heartfelt thanks to the Ethiopian Government and people, and friends from diplomatic circle for their support. In the past decades, the Chinese people have confronted numerous hardships, but never backed from them. Braving these difficulties, the Chinese nation has got even stronger. I would confirm to our international friends that China is capable to overcoming this catastrophe and reconstruct its homeland.