By DPA,
Geneva : The Red Cross has increased its appeal for China to $92.7 million.
The money would support a three-year emergency and recovery programme for 500,000 people, said the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Friday.
“People have lost so much and are very uncertain about their future, with continued aftershocks and the persistent threat of floods and mudslides we need to ensure that they are receiving the support critical to long term survival,” said Pablo Medina, IFRC operations coordinator for the China earthquake.
“The Red Cross Society of China has been working around the clock to provide basic relief, medical and shelter assistance and we are fully committed to supporting their efforts in any way we can.”
Initially the funding would support Chinese Red Cross volunteers and staff to meet the most critical needs of survivors, including emergency shelter, the prevention and control of disease outbreaks and water and sanitation.
The federation was sending 100,000 tents to the affected areas along with a sanitation unit to provide facilities for 20,000 people.
In the long term, Red Cross Red Crescent efforts would focus on the construction of health centres and schools, along with permanent homes for about 2,000 rural families whose houses were completely destroyed in the May 12 earthquake.
Friday’s appeal followed an initial emergency request for $19.3 million May 15, before a more in-depth assessment could be made.