Weeks of heavy rain cause destruction in south China

Plan is helping vulnerable children stranded by China’s worst floods in recent history. Nearly 30 million people have been affected by the disaster across the south of the country.

Weeks of heavy rain have swamped ten provinces along the Yangtze River, destroying crops, damaging roads, and collapsing homes. The official death toll stands at 215 with a further 123 people missing.

Plan is working with partners in the worst affected area of Jiangxi as government resources become stretched. The provincial government of Jiangxi is leading the recovery effort after a dam in the Fu river burst, resulting in the evacuation of 20,000 people. The Chinese government’s response has included health protection, road repairs and rescue equipment.

The floods have damaged roads and bridges making it impossible for people to go out. Many schools are closed and in some areas people who have lost their homes are living in classrooms. Plan is planning to provide emergency food and clothing for children affected, as well as to fund longer-term rebuilding projects.

“The risks now are of epidemic disease outbreak and shortages of food and drinking water,” says Plan China’s country director Mark Leighton. “Longer term concerns on food security and rebuilding livelihoods and infrastructure remain. Although it is possible some compensation will be available for victims, it is likely to fall far short of what will be needed to rebuild homes and livelihoods.”

Plan staff is attending disaster coordination meetings, while carrying out a child-centered situation analysis and disaster response assessment. “We’re monitoring the unfolding situation via local partners and we’re informed that need still exists in pockets where government provision is stretched thin,” says Leighton.

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