The Earthquake in Sichuan
On the afternoon of Monday, May 12, 2008, a massive earthquake, measuring 7.9 on the Richter Scale, rocked China. The epicenter was Wenchuan County, Sichuan, northwest of Chengdu. To learn more, please see HTS Journal.
PART TWO - REBUILDING CHILDREN'S LIVES
THE FOLLOWING PHOTOGRAPHS REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF HALF THE SKY FOUNDATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Dujiangyan: Images like these of a collapsed primary school are all too common in this town near the epicenter. Of the 500 children at the Dujiangyan City Primary School, 241 died.
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Hongbai Township: A small town destroyed. Unbearably sad images like these children's graves and ruined schools will never be forgotten by those who survived.
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The Relief Effort: Half the Sky could not have accomplished all it did during the early weeks of the disaster wthout the help of incredible volunteers like those from Gung Ho Films (below in black shirts), its own wonderful staff (below in blue shirts) and even the Chinese Army!
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Leigu: HTS staff Ma Lang, Yang Lei, local volunteers and our friends from the army took a dangerous journey to flood-threatened Leigu to bring desperately-needed food and supplies to over 2,000 orphaned and displaced children.
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Chengdu CWI: Even the Chinese military works nonstop for the children! Soldiers helped HTS load into army trucks emergency supplies which would be carried by helicopter to 1,000+ children stranded in Aba.
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Chengdu CWI: HTS erects the first 'BigTop' to help the orphanage prepare to receive newly orphaned children.
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Dujiangyan: The damaged CWI will be blown up on Sunday. Althrough new children have been arriving daily, they are now registered (see daily sheets below) and brought to other facilities. Four older children remain at the CWI and will live with institution staff until the facility is rebuilt. HTS offered additional relief supplies to help during the transition, including a tent for the CWI office, new shoes and clothes for the remaining kids.,
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Mianyang: While the government is racing to erect long-term but temporary housing for survivors, makeshift shelters like this provide, at least, minimal comforts for families that have managed to stay together..
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Chengdu: As aftershocks continue, the orphanage decided to take the precaution of moving the children outside.
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Zitong - Of the 24 children who were brought to the orphanage (most from An'Xian, survivors from Xiao Ba Primary School), 12 were reunited with their parents. A sign at the orphanage gives information about the new arrivals who remain: "Yan: only her mother was home; XianLin & LiGang are brothers: only their father was home: Cheng: her father is working in Xinjiang; Dan: her parents are working in Zhejiang; Jun: about 2 years old, parents whereabouts unknown; Zhou: about 1 year old, parents whereabouts unknown. Needs: Books to read. Stable place to live. Emotional needs: their family...their relatives."
Chengdu - Children who have not been claimed by searching parents or relatives must sign their own release forms, giving permission for surgeries (such as this child) or even life-saving limb amputations.
Chengdu - The city's Qingyan Sports Center has become a relief camp. The young mom (red coat) received special assistance from the army to reach the camp with her 16 day-old baby. The baby was born in Yingxiu and lost her daddy in the earthquake when she was only 11 days old. There are many children living in the Qingyan camp who've not yet been reunited with their parents. Most are teenagers. Children in the primary schools and kindergartens more often did not survive as they were napping when the earthquake struck.
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"RELIEF GOODS"
This sign is displayed on HTS relief vehicles and packages.
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SHIFANG, SICHUAN
As many as 40,000 children are in need of shelter and care. Their schools and homes destroyed, high school-age survivors are trying desperately to study for their all-important school exams, which take place across China in early June. Half the Sky is providing tents and basic necessities.
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CHENGDU CHILDREN'S WELFARE INSTITUTION
The children are all well. They all sleep on the first floor of the children's building and, for their safety, are kept outside during their waking hours. Due to recent severe aftershocks, the CWI is now preparing to move children to tents. Half the Sky is providing tents and other basic necessities.
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HANZHONG COUNTY SOCIAL WELFARE INSTITUTION, SHAANXI
Cracked walls and a crumbling foundation forced the children and caregivers of this small orphanage close to the Sichuan border
to take shelter in tents. All are fine.
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THE ABOVE PHOTOGRAPHS REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF HALF THE SKY FOUNDATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Thanks to Half the Sky supporter, Hendrika Martin, for this map showing orphanages affected by the earthquake. For downloadable PDF, click the image.
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