Earthquake Update - 20 April 2010.

One week on from the devising Yushu Earthquake, the needs of the people caught up in the chaos are growing.

Children shiver under fresh snowfall in Yushu Town, today, seven days after the earthquake. (Jinpa, 20 April 2010).

Jinpa's staff have been deeply moved by the generosity that people around the world have shown to the people of Yushu. We are particularly grateful to all the Chinese Government and the Chinese people who have responded so quickly and so generously. As well as the high profile relief-work undertaken by the government and the army, we are deeply moved by the generosity of the local communities across the region and beyond which have offered both grain and money to help their neighbours in Yushu.

Jinpa's local staff have made a list of what they think are the key needs of the people. These are mostly simple things that can be readily bought in Xining and brought up to Yushu. Jinpa then will distribute them among the needy people in and around Yushu, using our existing contacts in the local communities to reach the furthest and neediest people.

• women's sanitary towels
• cloth nappies
• wash cloths and towels
• Women's underwear - all sizes (probably nylon so dries quickly)
• bars of soap
• toothbrushes, toothpaste
• washing soap
• then they need grills  or grids or effectively  western oven shelves that they can  put on top of bricks to form a stove
• cooking pots and large spoons
• kettles
• tea mugs and large metal mugs that can be used as universal plates etc
• paracetamol
• multivitamins
  Then most importantly
• solar lights or lamps
• heavy canvas tents.

A donation of £90 or $140 will allow us to buy and transport most of these things for one family. A smaller donation of around £25 or $40 would allow us to buy and supply a kettle, teacup and a month's supply of tsampa and butter (the staple foods) for an elderly or vulnerable person.

With the exception of bank-charges, any donation you can make will be transferred in full to Jinpa in China. We do not have any overheads in the West.

Jinpa desperately needs money for these items, and we are also looking for funding to support training local people in how to cope with their changed situations.

Shocked, or simply happy to be alive? (Jinpa - 20 April 2010)

The devastation that has been wrought on Yushu will take a generation to overcome, but with your help, we can mitigate the worst suffering.

Please make a donation to Jinpa using the link on the left of the screen.

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