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Nations support disaster relief
By Hu Haiyan and Shan Juan (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-16 07:47
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BEIJING - A number of countries and international organizations have expressed a willingness to assist the Chinese government with its relief efforts after a massive earthquake hit Yushu of Qinghai province on Wednesday morning.
The United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO) are ready to help China with its relief and rescue operation following a request from the Chinese government, Vivian Tan, spokeswomen of the WTO's Beijing office, told China Daily on Thursday.
Gu Qinghui, the Beijing-based disaster relief delegate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), said it would send experienced earthquake relief volunteers from across the country to Yushu after receiving a request from the Red Cross Society of China.
"To date, I think the Chinese government has done a pretty good job in disaster relief efforts," he told China Daily.
Volunteers from the IFRC participated in relief work in Sichuan after the 8 magnitude earthquake jolted the province in May 2008.
Along with expressing its gratitude, China welcomed the offers of assistance from the international community, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said on Thursday.
Dozens of countries and international organizations sent condolences, with some offering further help to the quake-stricken area, Jiang said.
The UN emergency relief coordinator on Wednesday sent his condolences to the Chinese government as well as to people across the quake zone. He also praised China's immediate and effective response to the disaster.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the casualties and losses caused by the earthquake.
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday conveyed sincere condolences to China in the wake of the disaster.
"On behalf of the American people, I offer sincere condolences to the families who lost loved ones in this morning's earthquake in Northwest China's Qinghai province," Clinton said in a statement released by the State Department.
Jon Huntsman, US Ambassador to China, yesterday donated $100,000 in checks to the Red Cross Society of China and the Qinghai Provincial Red Cross Society.
The Brazilian government on Wednesday expressed solidarity with China.
"The Brazilian government conveys its sympathy to the families of the victims and expresses its condolences to the Chinese government and its people," Brazil's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Japan, Germany, Israel, Turkey, Venezuela, Canada and the European Union have also expressed their condolences to China.
China Daily
