Emergency Fund Created for Earthquake Relief in China
Donate now to our Earthquake Relief Fund using our online form or mailing your donation to WHFC, 38 Edge Hill Road, Waltham, MA 02451. Please specify that the donation is for the China Earthquake Fund
June 5, 2008
A few weeks ago WHFC established an Earthquake Relief Fund to provide immediate aid to children affected by the 7.9 earthquake that struck China on May 12. We are very grateful for the immediate outpouring of donations we received! Thank you to everyone who responded so quickly. We were among the first foreign entities to get much needed relief funds to our partner in China, the China Centre of Adoption Affairs (CCAA).
To date we have raised more than US$7,000 and have matched each donation we have received, dollar for dollar. On May 21, we sent our first donation of US$10,000 to CCAA to be used for the immediate relief of children and their families affected by the disaster. Specifically these funds are being used for bedding, clothes, rehabilitation shelters, and other urgent needs. CCAA is on the ground in the epicenter of the quake zone administering relief to orphans and other at-risk children. We have been in close contact with them regarding the disaster situation, and we are confident the funds are being used to assist children and their families who are most in need.
An estimated 88,000 people have been killed in the disaster with unconfirmed reports of thousands of children orphaned. Fortunately, no children living in the Social Welfare Institutes (SWIs or orphanages) were killed in the earthquake, but several of the SWIs suffered severe damage and the children are now living in tents because the facilities are considered unsafe. The extent of the damage and the cost to rebuild the SWIs is still not completely understood. Rebuilding will likely begin soon as this is the start of the rainy season in China and there is an urgent need to get the children into solid structures.
As efforts shift to services for survivors and the reconstruction phase, we continue to remain committed to assisting our long-time partner in their work on behalf of orphans and at-risk children. Our goal is to raise an additional US$20,000 over the next 60 days, with an intention to match these donations again, dollar for dollar.
Your continued support of these efforts is vital and extremely appeciated.
May 23, 2008
Thanks to the generous contributions of so many of you, we sent our first donation of $10,000 to our partner CCAA (the China Center of Adoption Affairs) on May 21. The donations will be used to purchase beds, blankets, tents, food, and other needed items for children and their families affected by the earthquake. WHFC continues to accept donations for the China earthquake relief fund for both immediate relief efforts and long-term reconstruction; we are matching the donations we receive.
The death toll is now estimated to exceed 80,000 people. There are reports of more than 4,000 orphans from the earthquake, but it is hoped that the majority of these children will be reunited with family members.
May 20, 2008
The confirmed death toll in China is now over 30,000, and expected to rise above 50,000 people. The damage caused by this earthquake could exceed the 1976 earthquake in northeastern China.
The implications of this disaster for children in the Sichuan region living in institutions is still not well understood. Fortunately, there have been no deaths or injuries reported from orphanages, though several have been evacuated due to damage and structural instability. Additionally, it is impossible to predict the number of children who will be newly orphaned by the quake. CCAA has been unable to reach some orphanages in the hardest-hit areas.
Linda Lin, our China adoption program manager, expressed, "I'm very saddened and heartbroken to hear about the earthquake. I've been thinking so much about the children. I just can't watch the news. But, I have confidence in China's government and that they will be able to take care of the situation. We are all part of a family and can take care of these children."
May 14, 2008
Dear Wide Horizons Friends and Families,
As all of you are probably aware, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck western China on Monday in Sichuan Province. The latest updates show that 15,000 people are dead and tens of thousands are buried or missing. The impact on the orphanages is not yet completely known as many of the most affected facilities are in areas not easily accessed. However, not only are children in orphanages at risk, but many children may have been separated from their families, orphaned, physically hurt, and emotionally traumatized.
WHFC is currently working to find more information on the status of children in the areas most affected by the quake. At this time the information we have is very limited. However, Linda Lin is in contact with our partner in China, CCAA, and we are working to identify any emergency needs arising from the earthquake and aftershocks and are committed to responding to these needs.
We are setting up an emergency fund for earthquake relief in China. These donations will be used to help children affected by this disaster, including emergency and long-term relief to children in orphanages and children who have been separated from their families, orphaned, physically hurt and emotionally traumatized. Depending on the specific needs, funds could be used for food, trauma counseling, medical care and emergency shelter as well as to repair or rebuild institutions that may have suffered structural damage. You can make a donation to this fund using our online donation form and specifying in the comments section that your donation is for China Earthquake Relief, or by sending your check to:
Wide Horizons For Children
Attn: Earthquake Relief
38 Edge Hill Road
Waltham, MA 02451
Sincerely,
Janice Hoffman
Chief Operating Officer