28 May 2008The British Red Cross is sending a sanitation unit to help with the massive relief operation in China where thousands
are still suffering following the recent devastating earthquake.The unit, which promotes sanitation and hygiene to help reduce disease following disasters, is urgently needed in the
country. The World Health Organisation has warned that shortages of clean water and warm, humid weather are creating a serious risk of epidemics.The sanitation team
will be joined by a logistics delegate who will support the distribution of relief items, including 5,000 tents donated by the British Red Cross.Urgent assistanceThe Sichuan
province quake – measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale – is the worst earthquake to hit the country in 30 years. More than 60,000 people have been confirmed dead, with another 350,000 injured
and around 24,000 still missing. More than five million people have been left homeless and in some towns, 80 per cent of buildings – including schools, hospitals and factories – have
been destroyed.Helping survivorsThe Red Cross has spent around £30 million on emergency relief in the area to date, providing relief items – such as food, water,
shelter and medical equipment – to more than 800,000 survivors.The Red Cross Society of China has been providing non-stop assistance since the earthquake struck, deploying 17 medical
teams, 33 first aid teams and 31 rescue and relief teams to affected areas. Altogether, around 35,000 Red Cross staff and volunteers are involved in the relief effort.Following the disaster,
the British Red Cross immediately launched an emergency appeal to support the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement's response, which so far has raised more than £2.1 million.Pete Garratt, British Red Cross relief operations manager, said: "With so many people made homeless and being housed in temporary locations, the need to provide hygienic sanitation facilities to
prevent the spread of disease is crucial. "The British Red Cross sanitation unit is highly trained and specialised, and will help the local Red Cross branch to address the needs of
20,000 people."More about our China earthquake response China
earthquake information sheetChina earthquake in pictures
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
Parents cry over the picture of their child who died during the May 12 earthquake at a funeral home in Dujiangyan, Sichuan province May 28, 2008. REUTER/Stringer (CHINA). CHINA OUT. NO ...
