Earthquake Update

All the children, staff and buildings in Huang Nan (above) and Xining Children's Homes survived the earthquake unscathed.

Dear  Friends,

Siew Mei arrived in the UK for meetings just a few hours ago, so she has been unable to do anything about letting you know what has happened in the earthquake zone. I’m writing on her behalf.  My name is Clarence Tsang, Deputy Director of Christian Action... nice to meet you!

No doubt you've heard the news that in the early hours of April 14 several earthquakes struck in the southern area of Qinghai Province known as Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. According to media reports the death toll is in the hundreds and continues to climb; 85% of the buildings have been destroyed and most of the infrastructure is out of action.

The affected area is an 8 to 10 hour drive from the Children's Homes that we co-manage with the government, so I am very relieved to tell you that none of our children, facilities or  staff  were affected by the earthquakes.

We are grateful that meetings involving five key staff at a venue close to what turned out to be the epicentre were postponed. However, we do have friends and associates in the affected area so we sincerely ask for your prayers for them and all the people of Yushu at this terrible time.

As I write, some of our staff in Xining are in a meeting with the Qinghai government's Civil Affairs Department to find out what help is needed, and how we can assist them.  As soon as we obtain more information we will post it on this site for you.

Thanks so much for praying,

Clarence

Comments

[Alice Tan Wong]

Our hearts as a family are burdened with the news of the suffering of the Tibetan Qinghai people due to the earthquake. Please keep us posted as how we can help - particularly, my husband and I are architects with 20 yrs. experience and may be able to give some help about planning temporary shelters and later, permanent structures and have experience in building schools and hospitals. Though we do not have the experience in immediate disaster relief, we had been experienced in design and construction work in California with seismic design in buildings.

It's probably very chaotic now in Qinghai but my famiy, incl. our son, 17yrs. old, would like to help in any way we can. We are particularly concerned with the Tibetan children and youth and we are youth leaders in our local church International Christian Assembly, Hong Kong and we like to can organise an outreach team for earthquake rebuilding and outreach in late June or July to offer our assistance to the needy in Qinghai.

God bless you all in your efforts to rescue those still trapped in the rubble and our prayers will be with Qinghai people and the rescue teams...

Samuel and Alice Wong

[Fook Yee Wong]

Dear Siew Mei and Clarence,

Thanks for updating us on the situation. A bit relieved that your schools were not affected. However eventually your work would become more demanding with the loss of more parents and family members in the recent earthquake. We would remembering your work in prayers as well as the victims of the earthquake.

God bless,

Fook Yee

[Pete & Sue]

We are immensely relieved to learn that your own precious children have been unaffected by the tragedies surrounding the earthquake. Praise the Lord indeed !!

We continue to pray for the work in your orphanages, and for all in the disaster zone at this time.

Thank you so much for keeping us updated with the events!!