Local believers, SIM workers, and partners are visiting the displaced people living in the tent cities. Here, evacuated teens share an activity together.
China (MNN) ― SIM International is shifting the focus of its earthquake relief in China from providing for immediate needs to restoring lives and rebuilding villages.
The 7.9 earthquake on May 12 completely cut off a small mountain village from the outside world. The 800 villagers decided to stay in the village and harvest their crops, but they began running out of food and had to sleep outside in the cold. When one villager brought her baby to a refugee camp for medical help, an SIM worker learned of the predicament and helped deliver tents and food to the village.
SIM plans to work with local believers and officials to rebuild towns such as this one. It hopes to build long-term relationships with villages devastated by the earthquake by providing equipment for schools and hospitals, organizing special activities for children displaced by the quake, initiating agriculture projects, and offering micro-loans to help kick-start the local economy.
Earthquake damage is estimated at 20 billion U.S. dollars. Earthquake recovery in Sichuan province has only just begun, as infrastructure such as schools, homes, roads, bridges, and hospitals must all be rebuilt.
SIM began by providing water, blankets, and tents to earthquake survivors, as well as training local believers in caring for traumatized children. It plans to offer more training for caregivers, parents, and teachers. SIM workers and local Chinese believers have been visiting tent cities simply to talk to people and hear their stories.
"I find they need people to
whom they want to talk," said one SIM associate.
"The sorrow and mourning is beyond description," another associate reported. "Two days ago, a group of young people at a tent city invited us up to see the graves of their classmates and teachers. 'This was my teacher. This was my best friend. This was the best basketball player in the school.' That's what this group of 9th graders told us as we walked from terrace to terrace up the side of the mountain."
You can help with earthquake relief in China's Sichuan Province.
