World Vision China Aids 61,000 Flood Victims

World Vision China is providing vital aid to some 61,000 flood victims following severe rainstorms and floods in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Hunan and Guizhou Provinces.

The international relief agency will provide the flood-affected villagers with grains and child-friendly kits, and offer help in the reconstruction of their homes.

After conducting assessments in the three provinces and regions, World Vision China launched an appeal last Wednesday asking the World Vision Partnership for funds. The relief team was able to aid 8,580 villagers with the funds, by distributing food grains and child-friendly kits in Guizhou, and also rebuilding the houses of 2,000 homeless families in the three regions and provinces.

Another proposal is being submitted to the Hong Kong SAR Government to provide food grains to 50,460 villagers in the three provinces. Distribution is expected to take place in early July.

National Director of World Vision China, Dr Thomas ST Chan visited the severely hit Sansui County of Guizhou after declaring this as a priority emergency response and saw the suffering of the flood-affected villagers.

Bridges and roads have been badly damaged due to floods and landslides triggered by the heavy rains, at times causing Dr Chan and the assessment team to wade across the roads, World Vision reports.

"Many houses were destroyed or even collapsed. Farms are submerged and much of the villagers' food was washed away. They were worried about food supply in the coming months," Dr Chan said.

"We hope to start distributing the food grains very soon. The flood-affected people need our help."