Loving hearts deliver aid

Beijing residents are doing their part to help survivors cope during the aftermath of last week's massive earthquake in Sichuan.

Tons of relief supplies from residents in the capital have been delivered to victims in the quake-affected areas, according to organizers from Loving Heart Flight, an earthquake donation campaign launched last week, which includes several members of the Chinese media.

On Monday, roughly 100 boxes of food, nearly 250 boxes of mineral water and over 30 boxes of medical supplies were flown to Chengdu. Officials with the Sichuan Civil Affairs Bureau then dispatched the relief supplies to a special truck headed for Mianzhu.

Early Tuesday morning, the truck arrived in the town of Xinan, where locals and volunteers unloaded the boxes in just 30 minutes. Earthquake survivors lined up in good order though they all looked ragged and exhausted.

Village leaders immediately picked out the only two boxes of infant formula milk powder and distributed them among families with babies.

Within the next half hour, every family got food and water. While children chewed on biscuits, adults lit fire to prepare instant noodles.

"The vegetables died. We haven't had a proper meal for days," said earthquake survivor Shang Wenfa.

The family of three finished three packages of instant noodles within minutes. Shang said they would save the remaining biscuits for harder times.

Thousands of people are calling the hotline daily to ask which items are most needed. Most donors are humble, refusing to leave their name, but asking what more they can do. Some donors have been sending things everyday. Most people are sending essential items such as water, sanitary napkins and milk powder - but some are also donating sentimental items. One old man sent quake survivors a stick with a carefully made flower.

When news spread that tents were desperately needed, many people hunted for tents all over the city. A man surnamed Zhang spent some 40,000 yuan ($5,714) buying all 150 tents and 100 blankets at sports store Decathlon.

"I hope that's what they need," Zhang said simply.

Ding Zhirong has been spearheading the relief efforts of Loving Heart Flight with China United Airlines. Donated items are being flown daily to Southwestern China, he says.

"Our mission is glorious and tough. Our crew will do our best for the disaster-hit area," said Ding.

Because the plane has limited capacity, organizers are also working to ship supplies by train through the city's railway bureau. A Loving Heart train has been set aside for the campaign's relief efforts. It bears the name Qiang, which means hurry.

"It is named Qiang because the train carries what the earthquake victims need the most. We cannot afford losing even one second," said Zhou Zhenshan from the Beijing Railway Bureau. Zhou and his colleagues have spent days loading supplies on the train to send to Sichuan.

On Monday, the first Loving Heart train transported 450 tons of donated relief supplies to Sichuan.

New Hope Group, a Sichuan-based fodder company, is paying for the train's transportation fees for the coming month to ensure at least 200 tons of relief supplies get sent weekly.

For those who wish to donate, organizers are asking people to avoid donations of fruits or vegetables, as they are difficult to transport. Medicines are not accepted since they need verification for quality, and clothes and quilts must be new as disinfection is too timely a task at this time.

Tents are still in great demand.

Apart from calling the Loving Heart Flight hotline at 86-10-5863-5366, people can also donate through Beijing Youth Daily and Beijing Legal Times.

(China Daily 05/22/2008 page19)