Welfare
institutions in south and central China are having the hardest time
dealing with the weather disaster. This part of the country is simply
not equipped to deal with extreme cold or heavy snow and ice. The most
common critical problems are power outages, lack of safe drinking and
cooking water, lack of fuel, diapers and public transportation. In
many places where buses have stopped running, our Half the Sky nannies
have been walking hours (in one case, 4 hours) along icy roads to get
to the children. As conditions worsen, our nannies and teachers are
remaining at the institutions day and night. They have given up the
idea of going home to their own families for the holidays. They need
quilts. They need warm clothing. They need coal, water, disposable
diapers and food. Here
are the reports I have thus far, while in-flight. I will send more
soon. Where you don’t see a report, either all is well or I don’t yet
have information. I will tell you when we’ve heard from everyone.
We’ve also given all the directors an emergency number to call when/if
the situation changes.
Hunan Province – Chenzhou
has had no electricity or water for six days. They are relying on coal
for heat and cooking. The supermarkets and banks are closed. Staff is using personal money for baby food, diapers, coal and water. Costs
are rising due to shortages. They have a natural well which,
thankfully, is not frozen. Even the older children are helping to
fetch water. They have perhaps six days of food remaining. The local
government is overwhelmed by the disaster and is unable to help much.
Shaoyang has seen
heavy snow every day for 20 days. There is sufficient water and, for
the moment, there is power, so the children are warm. However,
5 of 6 power poles have been downed by weather. Only one stands and
the institution fears it will fall as well, leaving them without
electricity. Much of the rest of the city is already dark. Children
and caregivers continue to work and play together. High school
students are cramming for exams and trying to ignore the cold.
Everyone prays that the power pole will continue to stand. Yueyang
also has no electricity. The one functioning power generator is being
used in the children’s dormitory. They are relying on coal heat but
the price has tripled in recent days. They are running out of food and
have applied to the local Bureau of Civil Affairs for funds to buy
more. Our HTS nannies have been walking for hours to get to work, often slipping on the ice, “even though they try to be cautious.”
Xiangtan has had
snow for the past 10 days. The main water pipe is “broken again.”
There is no water for cooking right now but they do have electricity,
coal and blankets. They are still able to buy food but prices have
gone way up. Not all of the HTS nannies can get to work every day.
They are keeping the programs going as well as they can and make sure
that at least five nurturing nannies are there with the babies every
day, along with the institution’s caregivers. Jiangsu Province – Changzhou
has seen some heavy snows but the director reports that the children
are fine. The director says that he’s doing his best to ensure that
the children do not suffer. Public transportation is crippled by the
snow and HTS nannies and teachers are waiting for hours to catch a bus
for home or even walking home in the snowy dark.
Nanjing reports no problems at all despite the heavy snows. I tried to fly into Nanjing yesterday but it was not possible. Anhui Province -
Chuzhou has both water and power. Only public transportation has failed. HTS nannies and teachers are walking to work. They are leaving home extra early to be there for the children. Guangxi Province –
Guilin has two
broken HTS heater/air conditioners in the Infant Nurture rooms and
they’ve asked us to replace. The rooms are very, very cold. They
ask for more soft matting for the floors and also snow boots for our
HTS nannies who’ve been slipping and falling in the ice and snow as
they come to work. They are so ill-equipped to handle severe weather. Jiangxi Province –
Fuzhou lost power
for a few days but now it is back to normal. The snow stopped a couple
of days ago but now is falling again. The directors and HTS staff have
gathered all the children into one big room to keep them warm. They’ve
bought New Years clothes for the children and will have a party no
matter how bad the weather. This year, however, the foster parents
will stay home to keep the children safe. The institution has enough
food and water. They want us to focus on those in more serious trouble
and ask us please not to worry. Jiujiang
says they’ve never faced such bitter weather. They desperately need
disposable diapers. Washable diapers cannot be dried. They need warm
clothes, shoes, gloves hats quilts and warm mats for the floors. They need medicine for infant coughs and colds.
Hubei Province – Wuhan
suffers heavy snows but they still have power. Heaters are working but
there is no water for bathing. The local community has offered to take
children in for the Chinese New Year and the institution feels this may
be the best decision to keep them safe.
Huangshi reports
that the freeze is so severe that all heater/air conditioners have
stopped functioning. They need quilts and warm clothes for the
children. They need disposable diapers. Several HTS nannies have
fallen on the ice on their way to work and they need medicine to treat
cuts and bruises. Gathering
these reports together makes me think about how careful we have always
been at Half the Sky to maintain our focus on nurture and education
programs. Ours is not a medical or relief organization. There are
many wonderful groups who do that work. Probably the primary reason
we’ve been able to accomplish so much and reach so many children is
because we’ve maintained our focus on our core mission — providing
nurturing care for children who’ve lost their families..
But a moment like
this really cannot be ignored. The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina in the
US taught us that no matter how wealthy a country might be, its
vulnerable citizens (old, poor, ill, and orphaned children) are the
ones who suffer most when disaster strikes. Even as China seems to be
entering the first world, a disaster like this is quite simply
crippling. We know that orphaned children will be among those who suffer the damage most. I
say this because I think we should break one of Half the Sky’s rules
and, if there are sufficient funds raised in the Little Mouse Emergency
Fund, we should offer relief (water, food, diapers, quilts, clothing)
to any orphanage where children need help. Let’s see how this goes.
If people are as generous as I think they might be, we will work with
the provincial Bureaus of Civil Affairs in every hard-hit community,
and offer assistance to all welfare institutions where there is need.
Please lend a
hand, however you can. You can donate to the Little Mouse Emergency
Fund by calling us in the US at +1-510-525-3377 or in Asia at +852- 2520-5266 or by clicking on “Donate Now” or download a form to mail or fax. Donations are tax-deductible in US, Canada and Hong Kong. Please forward this message and tell your friends and family. I will be back with an update very, very soon."
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