A 7.3-degree devastating earthquake jolted the Caribbean island country of Haiti at 16:52 local time January 12th (05:53 Jan. 13 Beijing time), resulting in huge number of deaths or injuries that shocked the entire international community.
On January 13th, Mr Hua Jianmin, President of the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) sent a message of condolences to the Haiti Red Cross, expressing the will to try our utmost to provide support and assistance. On the very same day, the National Headquarters of the RCSC decided to offer USD 1 million for the humanitarian relief in Haiti. On next day (Jan. 14) of the donation, the RCSC announced on its official website that the society started receiving the contribution of public for assistance to Haiti.
By January 27th, in-cash donation to the RCSC had mounted to over RMB 11.56 million($1.69 mln), among which USD 500,000 has been contributed to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to support its relief efforts.
Actions by RCSC branches
On the noon of January 15, Cheng Chaoyang, headmaster of Mianyang in Sichuan province Senior Technical School and Mianyang Tourism School, together with Xiong Yuanwu, headmaster of Beichuan Vocational High School, came to Red Cross office in Mianyang with RMB 11,809.50 yuan donated by the faculty and students of the 3 schools. The 2 headmasters said that Beichuan Vocational High School was reduced to naught by the Wenchuan earthquake. The 3 schools have now recovered anew thanks to kind assistance from all walks of life. When learning about the devastating earthquake and its tragic consequence in Haiti, all of the over 3000 faculty members and students of the schools were shocked and spontaneously donated in the hope of contributing to the alleviation of Haiti people’s sufferings.
On the morning of the same day, Shanxi Provincial Red Cross branch received its first in-cash donation for the Haiti earthquake.
At 10:00, a middle-aged man came to the provincial Red Cross office, offering RMB 115,000 for Haiti earthquake. “Upon hearing the news about Haiti earthquake, we convened a family meeting yesterday evening, and everyone agreed to donate a share,” said the donor Mr. Bai. On the evening of Jan. 13th, he saw the scenes of quaked area on TV. “Seeing the news, we gathered to discuss about this and we all wanted to help.”
Wishes of a peacekeeping policewoman in Haiti
Peacekeeping Policewoman Wang Xueyan rescued 5 people out of the rubbles in Haiti after the earthquake. Her story was reported by the press and triggered wide-spread adoration back in her hometown in Huainan, Anhui Province. Government officials and people of various backgrounds visited her house to pay homage, as well as consolation money, to her family.
Wang’s mother and husband saved every penny of the money and on January 20, Mrs. Niu Jinrong, Wang’s mother, donated all the money to the Red Cross office in Huainan earmarked for Haiti earthquake response. She said this namely is the best support to her daughter and the response efforts. Wang was very happy to learn about this family decision over the phone, and said she would live up to the expectation and supports of her loved ones and try her best to serve the people in Haiti.
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