Our View--Information Issues in Relation to ‘98 China Floods

Presentation at PacInfo’99

By Xiao Xing, Juan Jing,

Red Cross Society of China

Summary

General information on Chinese Red Cross

’98 floods in ChinaInformation sources used /obtained by

Chinese Red Cross during emergency situation

What are to be further improved Conclusion

General information on Chinese Red Cross

Founded in 1904;One of the members of International Red Cross

since 1912;150,000 grass-root organizations and 20 million

membership nationwide and;To function as an auxiliary of authorities in

humanitarian field in carrying out such tasks as disaster relief/preparedness, first aid, social welfare, blood transfusion and dissemination of International Humanitarian Law, etc.

’98 Floods in China

General picture on floods situationLosses and affected population;Red Cross’ relief operations and;Situation in affected regions so far.

General picture on floods situation

• The YangtzeRiver Valley was hit by eight successive flood crests;

• Record -breaking floods also hit the Nenjing River and Songhua River Valley, with successive flood crests and;

• 12 provinces and more than 180 million people were affected.

Losses and affected population;

• More than 180 million people were affected and 4,150 dead;

• More than 18.3 million evacuated (homeless);• 6.85 million houses collapsed and more than 13

million damaged;• More than 22 million hectares of cultivated land

affected, in which 5.29 million no harvest and;• Direct economic losses: 255 billion yuan (US$30

billion).

Red Cross’ relief operations and

• Operations in 10 flood-hit provinces;

• Offering 670 million in cash and kind;

• More than 9000 medical teams serving victims and;

• Beneficiary: 30 million people.

Situation in affected regions so far

• The most of victims removed reconstructed houses or shelter houses;

• Food and cloths available;• No epidemic diseases found in affected regions;• Some victims will face lack of food in this spring

and;• Environment problem during coming spring.

Information sources used /obtained by Chinese Red Cross during emergency situation

What kind of information is needed?Major channels to obtain information:

Information released by authorities;Field assessment by local Red Cross, HQ’s team;Media reports from both home and abroad and;

Telecommunication (no alternatives ways to obtain information so far).

What are to be further improved

Personnel training for obtaining and using of information source;

Alternatives communication tools (computer network, mobile satellite phone);

Seeking donation in cash and kind at emergency stage;

Transportation and;Disaster preparedness.

Conclusion

Relief operations depend on external limited donation;

Personnel training; Rapid response to disaster to be

further strengthened and;Alternative communication ways

besides existing telecommunication.