China's relief efforts win praise

The speed and scale of China's emergency relief operations in earthquake-hit Nepal have been warmly appreciated by the Himalayan country. The sophistication and capacity of China's rescue teams also won the respect of international relief agencies.

China's humanitarian rescue efforts in Nepal have been continuing since a 7.9-magnitude earthquake devastated the country on April 25, killing more than 8,150. A second earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.3, hit the nation on May 12, killing at least 65. China sent emergency aid along with rescue teams and relief materials immediately after the first earthquake.

A 62-strong China International Search and Rescue Team arrived in Kathmandu on the afternoon of April 26, one day after the initial earthquake struck, making it the first heavy international rescue team to reach the country in the wake of the disaster.

The team is comprised of 40 rescuers, 10 medical workers and 12 seismic experts. Most members have rescue experience from earthquakes that hit Haiti and Japan.

Along with six sniffer dogs and the equipment needed for rescue efforts, the team also brought some emergency relief equipment, including power generators, tents and blankets.

According to team leader Huo Shufeng, they treated more than 2,700 victims and cleared about 430 buildings.

The first group of a 58-member Chinese medical team, organized by the People's Hospital of Sichuan, arrived on April 26.

The team, which set up a makeshift hospital in one of the hardest-hit areas, has treated 606 patients, including 117 seriously injured, according to Du Bo, head of the medical team.

On May 7, a second 56-strong Chinese medical team from Chongqing, and seven metric tons of medical aid arrived in Nepal.

According to Forbes, up to May 5, China has donated about $9.7 million in aid to earthquake-hit Nepal, to emerge as the number three donor, after the UK and US.

A 172-member rescue and medical team affiliated with the People's Liberation Army was also sent to Nepal to assist with the rescue operations.

In addition, four PLA air force IL-76 planes left Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan province, for Kathmandu on April 28, carrying humanitarian materials.

Up to May 7, China had sent 1,088 military personnel and members of armed police forces, the biggest group the PLA and armed police forces have sent overseas for humanitarian aid missions since New China was founded in 1949.

The PLA air force deployed eight transport planes, three helicopters carrying relief supplies and 190 pieces of engineering machinery.

China has sent a total of 546 tons of relief materials worth 60 million yuan ($9 million; 8.5 million euros), and 1,600 tents, 10,000 blankets and 327 electric generators to quake-hit areas, based on statistics from the Ministry of Commerce.

The Red Cross Society of China has also provided 2,000 tents to the quake-hit nation.

Xinhua contributed to the story.

fanfeifei@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 05/15/2015 page14)