Title: ACT Prepares to Assist China Flood Victims
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 21, 1998

ACT PREPARES TO ASSIST CHINA FLOOD VICTIMS
98-30-172-AH

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Continuous rains since March have caused extensive
flooding in 20 provinces of central and southeast China. Action by
Churches Together (ACT) has described these flood waters as "the worst in
living memory." The flood has reached levels unseen since the 1954 floods
which killed more than 30,000 people.
     ACT reports "grave loss to life and property" with many areas hit
again and again leaving no opportunity for the people to recover. ACT is a
worldwide network of churches, including the Lutheran World Federation,
meeting human need through coordinated emergency response.
     ACT has issued an appeal for $514,750 to provide relief and
rehabilitation in Jiangxi, Fujian and Hunan -- three of the four hardest-
hit provinces -- through Amity Foundation, an ACT member. The Amity
Foundation is a Chinese Christian-initiated voluntary organization
that aims to promote health, education, social service and
rural development. ACT has already sent $25,000 from its Rapid
Response Fund, and some ACT members, the Hong Kong Christian Council and
Church World Service, USA, have sent contributions as well.
     Amity Foundation seeks to provide emergency food, clothing, medicines
and other necessary items to those who have lost all means of survival.
They hope to help build new homes for those left homeless and to help the
most vulnerable communities restore rural primary schools, water
conservation projects and irrigation infrastructures that have been
destroyed in the floods.
     Amity has already provided nearly $100,000 of assistance in the form
of rice, blankets, clothing and other necessities to 60,000 flood victims
in the three provinces.
     The impact on human life inflicted by the current floods has been
grave, ACT reports. "The tens of thousands of houses that have been
flattened belonged to poor farmers who could not afford to build solid and
strong houses for their families. Now, with the crop loss and the
destroyed farmland, they are facing a struggle for survival. It will be
very difficult for them to achieve any sort of security and rebuild their
homes without help. The floods have resulted in the economic situation
being taken back 10 years."
     According to ACT, "The damage to irrigation facilities will severely
impact agricultural activities, affecting the crop yields for years to
come. Reconstruction of the facilities calls for huge investments, which
are usually beyond local communities and the local governments. The
destruction of roads, bridges, buildings and other infrastructure will take
a great deal of time and immense resources to rehabilitate, holding up the
normal development of the area and again adding to poverty. At present,
insufficient food and difficult conditions on the dikes are threatening and
wearing down those who have lost their homes. These people have been
staying in shanties made of plastic sheets."

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director 1-773-380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html