The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is distributing hundreds of tents and quilts to provide emergency shelter for some of the victims of last week’s devastating earthquake in China’s Sichuan province, according to a statement Friday of the UN.
State media in China report that the number of dead and missing as a result of the 12 May quake, which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, has climbed to more than 80,000, with about 280,000 others injured and nearly 5.5 million homeless.
The UN-agencies UNDP, WFP, WHO, UNFPA are delivering tents, food, medical supplies, hospital equipment and other emergency supplies.
UNDP
The first batch of 358 large tents and 1,500 quilts is due to arrive in quake-affected areas tonight, the agency reported, and follows the clothing, food, drinking water and medicines that it has already provided.
UNDP said the emergency supplies are part of the $2 million assigned to the agency out of the $8 million in relief grants contributed by the UN through its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the grant, saying it will be used by a variety of UN agencies, funds and programmes to help Chinese authorities meet the most urgent humanitarian needs.
“The United Nations stands ready to provide further support, as required, to the Chinese Government in its efforts to respond to the humanitarian needs caused by the disaster,” the statement added.
The number of dead and missing as a result of the 12 May quake, which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, has climbed to more than 80,000, with about 280,000 others injured and nearly 5.5 million homeless.
WFP
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is buying a second round of relief supplies, including rice, wheat flour and cooking oil, and a shipment comprising 473 tons is expected to arrive in Sichuan by the end of the week.
WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) is rushing additional medical supplies so that it can treat as many as 130,000 people. It is also sending experts to work with the Chinese Government on rebuilding its health infrastructure.
UNFPA
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is also mobilizing reproductive health supplies, including clean delivery kits and hospital equipment required for Caesarean deliveries and blood transfusions.
