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The first airlift of relief aid to Chinese earthquake victims provided by private organizations landed Sunday morning in Chengdu, capital of the hard-hit Sichuan Province, and AmeriCares medicines and medical supplies were an integral part of the shipment.
The AmeriCares shipment contained antibiotics, solutions, vitamins, blankets and other medical supplies necessary to treat the immediate needs of earthquake victims in China. Our emergency response experts are on the ground in China coordinating distribution.
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AmeriCares is collecting additional donations of medicines from pharmaceutical partners, including orthopedic supplies, such as wheelchairs and crutches, often needed by earthquake victims. Also, AmeriCares is offering a temporary field hospital, which they will deliver, erect and supply to assist in the short- and long-term medical treatment needs.
“It will take many years for the people, infrastructure and landscape of China to fully recover from the destruction created by the recent earthquake,” said Curt Welling, president and chief executive officer of AmeriCares. “AmeriCares staff and partners on the ground in China are working tirelessly to support the initial recovery efforts and to develop plans for the ongoing needs we anticipate in the affected regions. AmeriCares is very proud to be a part of this critical relief effort and join our colleagues in providing hope and health to the victims of this devastating disaster.”
The death toll in China has risen to 67,000, and an additional 20,000 remain missing following the 7.9 magnitude quake that struck May 12. Millions of people in the Sichuan Province have been left homeless in the aftermath of the country’s worst natural disaster in 30 years. Sichuan Province is located in Southwest China and is a densely populated region (more than 85 million residents). The suffering has been made worse by more than 4,000 aftershocks throughout the already devastated areas.
We will continue to keep you posted on our response to this disaster as more details arrive from our colleagues in the field.