UN allows $7 mn for quake-hit China

The UN has released $7 mn from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support its relief efforts in China.

The United Nations has released USD 7 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support its relief efforts for the victims of Monday’s massive earthquake in China that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.

The grant will be used by UN agencies, funds and programmes to assist with urgent relief efforts in the communist country, he said in a statement.

“The United Nations stands ready to provide further support, as required, to the Government of China in its efforts to respond to the humanitarian needs caused by the disaster,” he added.

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According to UN estimates, more than 12,000 people remain trapped under rubble and nearly one million houses were either destroyed or sustained heavy damage in the worst earthquake to hit China after the one in 1976, which killed 240,000 people.

“Over 100,000 people have been injured by the May 12 earthquake while around 13,400 people have been so far rescued, Elizabeth Byrs of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in Geneva.

Some of the hardest-hit areas are in mountainous regions, which are extremely difficult for rescue crews to access, Byrs noted.