China Earthquake Update

One year after a huge earthquake devastated southwestern China, Habitat for Humanity is helping families and communities to rebuild their homes and lives.

In Sichuan, construction is underway on more than half of 800 scheduled new homes and other facilities planned for families in rural areas, and volunteer builders have started arriving to lend a hand.

“Rebuilding safe, permanent homes after such destructive natural disasters takes time, patience and careful planning. We are now seeing the first results of that patience and planning.”

“In the months and years to come, even as the news headlines fade, Habitat for Humanity is committed to serving more families whose lives were altered forever by the events of May 2008”, said Rick Hathaway, Asia-Pacific vice president for Habitat for Humanity International.

In both Myanmar (following Cyclone Nargis) and China, Habitat for Humanity is applying experience and expertise gained in rebuilding after other natural disasters such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2005 earthquake in northwestern Pakistan.

Habitat is using different approaches and technologies in Myanmar and China. But there is one common strategy: encouraging families and community leaders to participate in the design and construction of their new homes and communities.

In February, HFH China started hosting volunteer teams in Sichuan. Since then there have been high profile visits by two celebrity teams, one with awarding-winning Hong Kong singer and actress Karen Mok and another with actor-director Daniel Wu. There have been four other build teams: two from international schools in Shanghai; one church team from Hong Kong and a team of South Korean university students supported by Korean steel group POSCO. Other teams are expected to visit in the coming months.

Primary donors for the US$6 million Sichuan program include Singapore Red Cross, Hong Kong Christian Council, Flextronics Corporation, Cisco, and Hyundai Motor.

Habitat for Humanity in China

Habitat for Humanity has been operating in Yunnan, Guangdong and Guangxi provinces for the past seven years. In partnership with different government and charitable organisations, Habitat has built and repaired hundreds of houses for the disabled and for those in need. Habitat has helped repair houses damaged by flooding in Meizhou, Guangdong, and after the earthquake in Pu’er, Yunnan. The team working in China also includes staff members who played key roles in Habitat’s work in Indonesia after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Find out more about Habitat for Humanity in China