Statistics tend to put people off. When floods in China affect more than 150 million people and displace 3.8 million, it is easy to shrug it off and look for more exciting news. For a family that has just lost its home, its fields and its entire food stocks, the news is a bit more personal.
Field workers of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have been travelling with the Chinese Red Cross through some of the provinces most affected by this year’s floods. They have witnessed personal tragedies, heroic assistance and scenes of utter devastation that defy the imagination unless seen, heard and felt up close.
One of the people they met was Zhang Wen Lin. His family of five were living under plastic sheeting on a dyke near their submerged home. “We have been here for two weeks,” he said. “Twice, we have had such rain and wind that the shelter blew away.”
Zhang’s family has only one bed and most family members have to sleep on the ground at night. When it rains, they move to table tops. It is a miserable existence made even more so by the prospect of more flooding to come.
It may seem that floods are a yearly occurence for China’s farmers and of course moderate flooding is essential for their crops. But the families living along the Huai river haven’t seen such flooding since 1991 and the water levels are, in fact, higher now than 12 years ago. One 86-year-old man told us he was being displaced for the first time in his life.
During a boat ride on the flood waters our field workers met Wang Huai Min, who is 69 years old. Standing on a poorly-constructed raft in the middle of what looks like a large lake, but is in fact water covering fields and several villages, he was on his way to gather wood from the roof of his house. Almost completely submerged in 2.5 metres of water, the red-brick house was still standing but as soon as the flood-waters subside the house will collapse.
Wang is one of 320,000 people in Li Xin county, in the extreme north of Anhui province, whose homes and fields have been inundated in the enormous floods of the past few days. He presently lives on a dyke nearby. Asked if he plans to rebuild the house, he laughed: “With what should I build a new house!” But he still plans to gather the wood, just in case.
Wang has a handicapped son and therefore falls into the category of vulnerable families in Li Xin, which is one of the least developed counties of Anhui. He is therefore likely to be on the list of beneficiaries of the Chinese Red Cross when it begins to implement a 5.8 million US dollar relief programme. The International Federation has asked its 178 member national societies to contribute toward the programme. In the interest of Wang Huai Min, we hope to get a good response. It will enable us to assist those who are most seriously affected with a family package consisting of 100 kilos of rice, a quilt and a mosquito net as well as distributing tents and water purification tablets.
Action by the Red Cross is designed to complement efforts by authorities in the flood-affected areas. By focusing on the most vulnerable families in the most seriously affected villages, the Red Cross hopes to provide some comfort and assistance to those who need it the most.
Yes, floods in China produce impressive statistics. But behind the numbers are real people and they are suffering. When the floods subside, as they inevitably must, these people face enormous hardships in rebuilding their lives and livelihoods. In many cases, their houses will have collapsed, their fields will be ruined and they will have no food source other than aid and possibly minor crops for another nine or ten months.
For those who are willing to read beyond the statistics, there is scope for participation. Anyone can help Zhang Wen Li and Wang Huai Min. The Hong Kong Red Cross, which is an autonomous branch of the Chinese Red Cross, is actively seeking funds for flood relief operations as are other Red Cross branches and national societies. Much depends on their success.
Related Links:
Floods in China
China: appeals, updates and reports
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