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One of the mobile THW water purification plants installed at provisional refugee settlements is seen in this file photo taken at Du Jiangyan of Sichuan in May 2008. [chinadaily.com.cn] |
"When I heard that the THW was seeking interpreters it was clear for Wu Lei and me that we should assist them," Zhang says. She and Wu became part of the disaster relief team. "It turned out to be a very valuable experience for us. In the face of this enormous disaster one could feel a huge wave of national and international solidarity, and it means a lot to us that we were a part of it," she says. "I'm still deeply touched when I remember the gratitude that the local people expressed for the THW's efforts."
Zhang and Wu also helped the THW volunteers at their final task before they flew back to Germany: At the end of their emergency relief mission, THW built permanent water filtration units at ten camps for long-term operation and instructed local personnel to ensure their smooth operation.
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Zhang Xin (2nd R) pose for photos with the THW team inside a tent at Dujiangyan in this May 2008 file photo. When Zhang Xian heard of the earthquake, she left Germany and came to Sichuan, where she helped the THW team as interpreter with the quake relief work. [chinadaily.com.cn] |
Expert training and know-how are also at the core of the Chinese-German civil protection cooperation agreement. THW president Broemme has offered his Chinese partners at CNSA the opportunity to profit from almost 60 years of THW's disaster relief expertise. "To get to know about the experiences of others means that one does not have to learn from one's own mistakes," Broemme said.
