2016 China Floods - Mainland China - Humanitarian - What We Do - Oxfam Hong Kong
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China Floods 2016

The Situation

Since early June 2016, torrential rain has lashed China with floods and landslides, seriously affecting Guizhou, Guangxi, Hunan, Yunnan, Shaanxi and other provinces, leading to many deaths, injuries and missing persons. Countless houses, farmland and infrastructure were seriously damaged. 

In the relatively impoverished regions of Guizhou, Guangxi, Hunan, Yunnan and Shaanxi Province, flooding and landslides have affected over one million people. Over ten thousand homes collapsed or were destroyed, resulting in the evacuation of residents to safer areas. Areas that were most severely affected include Tongzi, Liping, Jinping and Rongjiang Counties of Guizhou Province; Dahua County of Guangxi Province; Jingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County of Hunan Province; Yanjin County of Yunnan Province; and Luonan County of Shaanxi Province.

From the end of June to early July, torrential rain has affected 16 counties in Guizhou. Rongjiang County is one of the most seriously affected areas, and Pingyong Township in Rongjiang County is one of the most vulnerable areas. Rainfall reached 291.7 mm, causing major damage to basic infrastructure such as housing, roads, communication, water and electricity; 5,312 acres of farmland were destroyed by floods. A total of 6,685 people (1,463 households) have been affected and are in need of food supplies.
The north and southwest areas of Hunan Province have been affected by heavy rainstorms since 30 June. Jingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County is one of the most seriously damaged counties. Because large areas of farmland have been flooded and the fact that there are substantial differences in temperature between day and night in the mountainous areas, residents need food and quilts for the upcoming autumn months.  
In Pu’er Town and Zhonghe Town in Yanjin County of Yunnan Province, a total of 10,145 people were affected by the torrential rain. Floods swept away villagers’ necessities like cookware and clothing, and destroyed the walls, kitchen, first-floor classrooms and student residences at Longtai Primary School, a boarding school. 
A total of 35,731 people were affected in five counties in Shangluo City of Shaanxi Province, while 387 hectares of farmland were destroyed and direct economic loss has reached RMB 29.7 million. Luonan County was one of the most seriously affected areas. Villagers were evacuated to safer areas after their homes were destroyed and are in need of food, hygiene kits, shelter, quilts and other supplies.

From the end of June to early July, torrential rain has affected 16 counties in Guizhou. Rongjiang County is one of the most seriously affected areas, and Pingyong Township in Rongjiang County is one of the most vulnerable areas. Rainfall reached 291.7 mm, causing major damage to basic infrastructure such as housing, roads, communication, water and electricity; 5,312 acres of farmland were destroyed by floods. A total of 6,685 people (1,463 households) have been affected and are in need of food supplies.

The north and southwest areas of Hunan Province have been affected by heavy rainstorms since 30 June. Jingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County is one of the most seriously damaged counties. Because large areas of farmland have been flooded and the fact that there are substantial differences in temperature between day and night in the mountainous areas, residents need food and quilts for the upcoming autumn months.  

In Pu’er Town and Zhonghe Town in Yanjin County of Yunnan Province, a total of 10,145 people were affected by the torrential rain. Floods swept away villagers’ necessities like cookware and clothing, and destroyed the walls, kitchen, first-floor classrooms and student residences at Longtai Primary School, a boarding school. 

A total of 35,731 people were affected in five counties in Shangluo City of Shaanxi Province, while 387 hectares of farmland were destroyed and direct economic loss has reached RMB 29.7 million. Luonan County was one of the most seriously affected areas. Villagers were evacuated to safer areas after their homes were destroyed and are in need of food, hygiene kits, shelter, quilts and other supplies.


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Oxfam’s Response

Together with our partners Guizhou Blue Sky Search and Rescue Team, Guizhou Yang Guang Rescue Team and Guangxi Xinxiang Social Service Centre, we have delivered food, quilts, hygiene items and cash grants to survivors in Tongzi, Liping and Jinping Counties of Guizhou Province, and Dahua County of Guangxi Province. Together with the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Center of Yunnan Province and the China Civil Climate Action Network (CCAN), we have distributed relief items in Yanjin County of Yunnan Province and Luonan County of Shaanxi Province. We have completed our assessment in Rongjiang County of Guizhou Province and Jingzhou County of Hunan Province, and have developed a response plan.

Guizhou Province:

We immediately mobilised emergency supplies and have delivered 1,000 quilts from our preparedness warehouse to the villagers in Liping County on 13 and 14 June.

We provided approximately 14,978 villagers (3,735 households) 247.5 tonnes of rice and cash grants in seriously affected areas like Liping, Tongzi and Jinping Counties to meet their urgent needs. 

In Pingyong Township, Rongjiang County, we provided 100,275 kilograms of rice to 6,685 villagers.

Guangxi Province:

In Dahua County, we have provided 32,340 kilograms of rice, cooking oil and hygiene items to 1,078 villagers (241 households) to support their food and personal hygiene needs for two months.

Hunan Province: 

Oxfam has developed a response plan together with partner organisations for Xinchang Township, Jinzhou County—a poor and seriously affected town that has received less public attention. We plan to provide 25,800 kilograms of rice and 1,720 quilts to 1,720 villagers. 

Yunnun Province:

Oxfam partnered with the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Center of Yunnan Province to provide support to two townships (Zhonghe Township and Pu’er Township) in Yanjin County of Yunnan Province, supporting up to 1,700 people. We supported affected residents with relief items such as tarpaulin, induction cookers and water pipes to meet their urgent food preparation needs. We have distributed quilts, bunk beds, disinfection cabinets, cookers, freezers and steamers to meet the needs of the students at Longtai Primary School. 

Shaanxi Province: 

Oxfam completed disaster assessments with partner the China Civil Climate Action Network. We immediately mobilised relief items from our Gansu and Shaanxi Province preparedness warehouses, including torches, hygiene kits, quilts, tarpaulins and other supplies. We have purchased flour and cooking oil, which were delivered to seriously affected areas in Luonan County (Luoyuan Township and Xunjian Township). A total of 4,526 people (1,263 households) were benefited.

 

Oxfam pays special attention to the concerns of remote and poor communities, as well as the needs of vulnerable groups, such as women and ethnic groups. We adjust our humanitarian response based on the needs of the situation.

We also ensure that donations for each emergency are used for the people affected by each disaster, and have a strict audit and monitoring system. Also, Oxfam staff are in charge of everything from sourcing to purchasing to distributing relief supplies, and the entire process is open, fair and transparent.

In this disaster, Oxfam received HK$1 million from the HKSAR Government Disaster Relief Fund to purchase supplies in Pingyong Township, Rongjiang County in Guizhou Province; and Xinchang Township, Jinzhou County in Hunan Province. The Disaster Relief Fund requires that these funds are used for specific disasters. After the completion of our relief work, we have carried out an evaluation, and submitted a financial report and audited accounts to the Disaster Relief Fund.

As always, Oxfam uses separate accounts for public donations when raising money for disaster relief work, and this China floods is no exception.