Holding on: a trapped earthquake victim holds the hand of a rescuer.
(Photo: (
cc
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Wang Qian
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With 80,000 people now dead or missing in Sichuan, Chinese Christians have been among the first in the relief effort, working with traumatised families and helping to bury the dead
Updated Sat 24 May 1:48pm
The true scale of China’s earthquake tragedy is now being revealed, with the official death toll rising to more than 55,000.
Amid the unthinkable devastation, small teams of Chinese Christians have been working to bring aid and comfort to traumatised survivors in the earthquake zone.
Chinese Christians from most of the major cities are working with
ActionLove, Asian Outreach's social development arm, under the banner of "China Christians ActionLove."
They were on the ground assisting with the relief effort within 24 hours of the devastating earthquake.
Related links
ActionLove update Sat 24 May
In pictures
ActionLove teams at work
Local Christians formed teams to provide immediate help with food and water in mountainous villages and townships before the government supplies arrive.
The teams also took radios, torches and simple words of comfort to those whose loved ones have died and whose homes have been destroyed.
“Their slogan is ‘seeing the light and hearing the voice, your hearts are comforted’,” reports Francis Tsui, President of Asian Outreach. “Families who have received the gift, appreciate that they are not forgotten, have the light and feel the love.”
Because ActionLove is a recognised non-governmental organisation in China it has a good relationship with the government, and the teams were quickly granted access to the earthquake zone.
With 29,000 people still missing, and the risk of disease from dead bodies, every bit of help is needed.
ActionLove teams obtained vehicle passes to go into the mountainous areas around Mianyang and Anxian. The government has delegated them the bleak task of disinfecting and burying bodies to avoid an epidemic.
Work continues in difficult conditions – the teams have no washing facilities and only the clothes they are wearing.
The China Christians ActionLove group has said it will “work with the government on rebuilding families and communities.”
Groups of Christians have begun to discuss which town or village, or affected group of people, they will commit to supporting long-term.
“Indeed, amidst all the sadness, the Light has to shine,” says Dr Tsui. “Oftentimes, it is during darkness that the light shines to become a beacon of hope, and people can see it ever so clearly.”
Former CMS Asia director, the Rev Canon Chye Ann Soh, has spoken of his “pain and agony as we continue to work for the forgotten people all across Asia, for the moment accentuated by the plight of the Chinese people in Sichuan.”
“I’m speechless,” he said. “Fifty thousand people perished, many of them children and students – most are only children too – tens of thousands injured or missing and five million homeless, millions traumatised and suffering, and a nation of 1.3 billion in deep mourning.”
ActionLove needs to raise £50,000 for its earthquake relief and long-term rebuilding work. You can donate through CMS by clicking on the link below or send a cheque made payable to Church Mission Society, with a covering note, to CMS, Watlington Road, Oxford OX4 6BZ.