Yushu Tent Project
Thank you very much for those who made generous donation toward tents. TVP is happy to inform you that we are able to reach our challenge grant goal. Additional donations TVP receives will be used for tent delivery, to buy more tents and to help rebuild business communities. Here are some photos to share from our latest tent delivery to Yushu.
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Tamdin with a homeless person in Yushu |
At 7:49 a.m. local time on Wednesday, April 14th, a huge earthquake struck Yushu County in the Qinghai Province of China. Yushu is a predominately Tibetan area on the border of Qinghai, Sichuan, and the Tibetan Autonomous Region. The earthquake killed roughly 2,300 (official count) people; injured more than 10,000, and destroyed about 85 percent of the houses in Jiegu, a town of 100,000 people.When Yushu was hit by an earthquake on April 14th, 2010, TVP team including Tamdin Wangdu, Chris Jones and Don Cullen where in Chengdu for another project. Some team members stayed in Chengdu to coordinate relief while Chris and Tamdin flew to earthquake-affected areas to help coordinating relief effort. Between April 16th and July 1st, TVP raised approximately $175,000 specifically for Yushu earthquake aid, which included: (1) coordinating relief effort; (2) distributing supplies such as food, water, clothing, tents, and other basic staples; (3) supporting temporary relief workers and volunteers; and (4) helping to rebuild business communities.
As an interim response, TVP is working to identify aid gaps and is focusing on areas that are getting the least support from the government and other aid agencies; this includes dealing with sanitation problems, supporting temporary relief workers, and facilitating relief efforts with various NGOs. One important aid gap that TVP has identified is the temporary shelter issues. Initial aid distribution (by the government or under its direction) included one tent per family, regardless of the size of the family. A family of eight has to share a single 12 x 12 foot tent. In addition, these are poor quality summer tents that leak when it rains heavily and tear when there is a strong wind. It is unclear how families and children will survive the upcoming winter. The average altitude in most earthquake-affected areas is about 13,123 feet (4000 meters) and cold. The government states the reconstruction of homes will take up to three years.
According to the Chinese government, in 2000 Yushu County had an official population of 77,000 people living in 16,300 households. The average family size was about 4.6. TVP made a realistic goal to provide insulated tents for 300 families with children before this winter starts.
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With your continued support, we can reassure the people of Yushu that while their story is no longer on the front page of newspapers, they will not be forgotten, and people around the world care about their fellow human beings. Please consider making a donation and share this page with others using social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter. To learn more about overall earthquake response progress and TVP's involvment, please click here. If you would like to receive detail proposal about Yushu Tent Project, please contcat us. Thank You.
