Quake Snippets

Rumormongers busted

The public security authorities have handled more than 40 cases of rumors spread on the Internet since the deadly earthquake on Monday.

Police in 11 provinces and municipalities including Hebei, Liaoning and Anhui have found more than 40 messages suspected of spreading rumors online.

Till yesterday, 17 people were investigated, with two detained in custody and others released after a reprimand.

Trauma treatment

Free psychotherapy handbooks are expected to reach the surviving students in Sichuan before the Children's Day.

Seminars and CDs on psychotherapy training will also be provided for teachers.

Vice-Minister of Education Chen Xiaoya said the authorities attached great importance to the task of taking care of the students who have lost their parents or relatives, and urged the experts in the national juvenile psychotherapy health committee to work out the specific plan for trauma treatment of students as soon as possible.

Team to handle bodies

The Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Public Security have sent a joint expert team to the quake-stricken Sichuan province to help deal with bodies of the victims.

The danger of epidemic outbreaks is rising as the rescue operations enter the seventh day.

Confirmed death toll has exceeded 28,000 while more than 50,000 are feared dead in the worst quake to have hit China in three decades.

International reaction

'Very good job'

President of the National Committee on US-China Relations (NCUSCR) Stephen A. Orlins has said the Chinese government has done a good job in dealing with the earthquake.

"A disaster like this is very much a moral test of a government," said Orlins. "The Chinese government is doing a very good job in dealing with disaster relief."

In an interview with Xinhua, Orlins, who has headed the NCUSCR since May 2005, sent his condolences to all those who have lost their loved ones.

He said there has been a tremendous outpouring of sympathy and support for China.

Helping hand

Torchbearers chip in

As the Olympic flame passed Wenzhou in Zhejiang province yesterday, 108 torchbearers donated 475,000 yuan ($68,840) for the quake victims.

A minute of silence was observed at the opening ceremony of the Wenzhou leg of the relay. An estimated 200,000 people lined up along the torch route as it passed through this prosperous city.

Flying services from HK

Hong Kong government sent a team of five staff from the Government Flying Service early yesterday morning to earthquake- devastated southwest China's Sichuan province to provide assistance in the rescue and relief efforts.

The team of two pilots, two aircrew officers and one aircraft engineer will form part of the Hong Kong government's rescue team.

Hong Kong had already sent two rescue teams comprising of firefighters and medical staffs to Sichuan province since the earthquake took place on Monday.

Indian relief goods arrive

The first Indian aircraft carrying tents, blankets and other relief material arrived at Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province which is close to the epicenter of the earthquake yesterday.

The goods were immediately taken to quake-hit areas.

It was part of the $5-million offer India had announced on May 15 to help China's earthquake victims.

The second Indian relief aircraft is expected to reach Chengdu on Monday and will carry additional relief supplies including medicines, tents and sleeping bags.

Canada donates $1m

Canada is contributing $1 million to support the International Red Cross's emergency earthquake relief.

Canada's International Cooperation Minister Bev Oda and Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier said the money will help ensure the basic needs of the affected communities are met quickly and effectively.

Canada's contribution will help provide emergency shelter, medical services and relief items, as well as water and sanitation services, they said in a joint statement.

Canadians share the grief of those who have lost their loved ones and stand in solidarity with those involved in the rescue and relief efforts, Bernier said.

Adoptions may take time

The adoption of quake orphans have not been formally kickstarted as most of their identities have yet to be confirmed, Sichuan bureau of civil affairs said yesterday.

An official with the bureau surnamed Shen said he received many calls on enquiries of orphan adoption.

But some legal formalities have to be carried out before people can adopt a quake orphan, he said.

"The most urgent task now is to save lives," he said. "We have to wait till the orphans' identities are confirmed before they can be adopted. But people's enthusiasm to help the children really has moved me," he added.

China Daily - Xinhua

(China Daily 05/18/2008 page15)