Date: 12 May 2008
Magnitude: 8.0
The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan Province remains one of the most powerful earthquakes to hit China. It was felt as far away as Beijing and Shanghai — 1,500 km and 1,700 km away, respectively — and left the nation reeling. More than 88,000 people were killed or unaccounted for, and close to five million were left homeless. The economic losses incurred amounted to US$191 billion, the second highest in recorded history. Mercy Relief responded swiftly to appeals for aid.
Partner(s): Local Disaster Management unit, Sichuan Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (SFPA), Poverty Alleviation Bureaus of Chengdu and Ziyang
How we helped:
- Sent a response team with S$534,000 worth of relief supplies including:
- 2,500kg of non-food items valued at S$341,000
- School furniture and education kits valued at S$34,000
- 40,000kg of food as part of a Food Aid Programme, valued at S$159,000
- 1,000 Play Packs for children
- Followed up with five rapid deployment tents to be used as temporary classrooms
- Mercy Relief’s Goodwill Ambassador Stefanie Sun distributed Play Packs for Children’s Day
- Implemented seven reconstruction projects in Ziyang Prefecture including the rebuilding of schools, a home for the aged, a health clinic and two bridges
- Supported 22 underprivileged students under the Student Financial Assistance Programme, valued at S$30,000
- Raised S$163,000 in an island-wide street collection in Singapore with the help of more than 800 volunteers
- Raised an additional S$1.2 million for reconstruction efforts from corporate donors and public donations
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