Society

Orphans from China quake, mudslide to get monthly subsidy

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-01 19:21

BEIJING - China Life Foundation agreed on Monday to provide 600 yuan ($91.3) per month to each of the 459 children orphaned by a major earthquake and a mudslide last year, both in northwest China.

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According to the agreement signed between the foundation and the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the charity program will finance these children until they are 18 years old or adopted. The funds will be given to the ministry annually and then sent to children.

In addition to basic life support, the program will also include psychological counselling and vocational education to the children.

A 7.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Yushu, a Tibetan prefecture in northwestern Qinghai Province last April, leaving at least 2,200 people dead and 403 children orphaned.

In August, rain-triggered mudslides led to the deaths of more than 1,471 people in Zhouqu in northwestern Gansu province. Another 56 children lost their parents.