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Xi’an, China (12 July) – Global child rights organisation Plan International is launching an emergency response to support affected families and meet the urgent protection and sanitation needs of children living in areas impacted by recent floods.
Severe rains and strong winds have battered parts of Southern China for more than a week, causing widespread floods and triggering landslides and debris flows. More than 26.8 million people have been affected by the floods, with 1.84 million people needing urgent relocation.
On 8 July, emergency response teams from Plan International China were dispatched to two of the worst flood-affected provinces – Anhui and Hunan – to assess the situation, and identify major needs of children and communities.
“Everywhere we visited, crops were flooded, roads were severely destroyed and houses were either collapsed or badly damaged,” said Zhang Qi, Disaster Risk Management Specialist for Plan International who was part of the emergency response team in Jinzhai County in Anhui Province.
Working in Anhui and Hunan provinces, Plan International plans to distribute hygiene kits, school supplies and household items to thousands of families and children, many of whom have been relocated and are currently living in open shelters or temporary camps.
Plan International will look to establish safe spaces for children where they can access learning materials, play recreational games, spend time with their friends and receive counselling support in a secure and safe environment.
“We are particularly concerned about the safety and well-being of children, particularly those who may be left at home or staying in public camps. It is currently summer vacation, and as schools are closed and/or being used as temporary shelter, we are finding that children are being left alone and unattended to,” says Zhang Hongman, Program Support Manager for Plan International China.
“Our house was flooded and we cannot live there anymore,” says Xiao He*, a ten-year-old girl. My mom and dad told me that it is unsafe to go outside, so I have to stay inside our temporary home all day and look after my younger brother,” she says.
According to national media, the government has stated an economic loss of 57.85 billion yuan (equivalent to USD 8.65 billion).
*name has been changed to protect the identity of the individual
For more information, please kindly contact:
Xi’an: Tian Bo, Communications Specialist, Plan International China
+86 29 88102399 ext. 7017 Email: Bo.Tian@plan-international.org
Bangkok: Jessica Lomelin, Regional Communications Specialist
Mobile: +66 (0)96 865 7649
Email: jessica.lomelin@plan-international.org
