After the 5.12 earthquake, American Red Cross made active efforts to raise funds in the US. With a total of USD $ 50 million, the Society assisted various post-disaster projects to reconstruct residential houses, clinics, schools and water facilities through the International Federation and bilateral cooperation programs. A number of American corporate and individual donors have made directly contributions to the Red Cross Society of China. In order to reflect the recovery achievements, the RCSC invited an American Red Cross and corporate donor to go on an observation trip to Sichuan. Major corporate donor representatives, including those from UPS, Cisco, Coca Cola, HP, FedEx and Wrigley’s, joined the trip headed by ARC Senior Vice President David Meltzer from 19th to 22nd April. RCSC Vice President Hao Linna and other members of the RCSC HQs and Sichuan Branch accompanied the visit.
In the briefing meeting, Mme. Hao Linna introduced RCSC’s response after the earthquake, with a highlight of planning and progress of post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction work. In her welcoming remark, she expressed heartfelt thanks to ARC and donors and the determination to make accountable and transparent use of the donations. Vice Governor and President of Sichuan Red Cross Branch also briefed the delegation on Sichuan Red Cross response efforts.
During the following trip, the group went to the destruction sites in Yingxiu Township and Hanwang Township to witness the devestation of the tremor. They visited various kinds of projects supported by the RCSC in Aba Prefecture and Deyang Prefecture. Staff members of local Red Cross branches made introduction of the disaster situation and the recovery progress, and some beneficiaries in rural communities and school students also communicated with American guests.
Members of the group recognized that it is unbelievable to achieve such outstanding outcome within merely 2 years’ time after the disaster. Senior VP David Meltzer highly commended the prompt and efficient work carried out by the Chinese Government and the Red Cross. He expressed particular admiration for Chinese Red Cross’s well-managed quality work in reconstruction despite various kinds of difficulties. He said, “Because of my work, I have been to many places days, weeks, months and years after disasters. Hardly have I ever seen such wonderful organization of relief and recovery efforts as those coordinated by the RCSC. American Red Cross is proud to have the RCSC as its partner.”
During the trip, VP Hao Linna also briefed the American guests on the recent earthquake situation in Yushu Prefecture of Qinghai Province. She gave an account of the assessment she led right after the earthquake, and updated the group on RCSC relief and fundraising activities. Members of the group showed great concern over the disaster in Yushu and adored RCSC’s swift actions. UPS and Wrigley’s representative immediately expressed their intention to donate, and they believe that with our experience in 5.12 earthquake, the RCSC will play an excellent part in the relief and recovery work in the wake of the Yushu earthquake. ARC Senior VP also promised continued support in addition to ARC’s initial contribution of USD$50,000 following a USD$100,000 from the US Embassy in China. He said that the ARC already started domestic fundraising, with an initial pledge of hundreds of thousand dollars. ARC will keep close communication with RCSC, and support RCSC’s relief and recovery efforts in Yushu, Qinghai.
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