Red Cross Society swamped with disaster relief donations
( 2002-06-28 08:41 ) (8 )

By June 26, the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) had received 5.81 million yuan (about US$700,000) in donations and 1.6 million yuan (about US$192,771) worth of emergency relief supplies for areas ravaged by floods since mid-May.

These resources are being distributed to the flood-stricken areas, said a RCSC press release.

The release noted that in Chongqing and Hunan, local Red Cross agencies have dispatched 133 medical contingents to flooded areas. The Hunan branch of the RCSC has distributed two million yuan ( about 240,960 US dollars) worth of disaster relief materials and equipment.

The RCSC has opened a bank account for public donations and a hotline -010-65139999- for inquiries about donations.

Incomplete statistics show the recent flooding in China has claimed at least 596 lives and caused heavy property losses. About two thirds of China's provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government have been affected, with the most seriously hit areas including Shaanxi, Sichuan, Hubei, Guizhou, Chongqing and Fujian.

More floods are likely to occur in China next month, as more rains have been predicted for many regions, said a Chinese flood- control official.

RCSC has appealed to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for aid.