In response to the May 12, 7.9-magnitude earthquake in Sichuan, Washington is stepping-up to help China in its aftermath. Most impressively, the US seems to be sharing lessons learned from domestic challenges in 2005 with Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts, and is pitching in with this act of good faith to show strength in partnership.

The Statistics:

Disaster Assistance:

• USAID provided $500M USD to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies via the US Embassy in Beijing. The aid was for procurement and delivery of emergency relief commodities.
• American urban rescue workers from local fire brigardes (Los Angeles, CA and Fairfax County, VA) flew into China to perform “heavy rescues” to recover trapped and injured persons using state-of-the-art technology like diamond-tipped chain saws, generators, and oxygen-gasoline torches. In addition to manpower and expertise, equipment and training were provided in this effort.
• US aid also includes satellite images of resrvoirs, roads, and bridges sustaining damage as a result of the earthquake.
• Network for Good raised more than $215,000 for earthquake victims.
• The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has donated $1.3 M to the China Ministry of Health for safe water and disease control activities.

The challenge now is providing adequate coverage for China's internally displaced persons. The earthquake displaced approximately 5.4 million people, according to Sichuan provincial authorities.

CHINA - A student sits in the shambles of his school classroom. Photo by Imaginechina/AP Images.

China vs. Myanmar 

Everywhere, comparisons between the circumstances surrounding the recent disasters and Myanmar and China are cropping up.  One Brookings Institute article suggests that government disaster response actions are, by nature,  politically-driven: “Presently the apparent openness of news reporting on the Chinese earthquake stands in contrast to the staged scenes of disaster relief in Burma.” As media coverage directly impacts the receipt of donations, this is just one of many reasons why China seems to be having a better time salvaging aid than Myanmar.

Adding onto China's base of prolific media coverage the interest/investment of American companies and global attention with the coming Olympic games, China is eclisping Myanmar in the push for relief.

 
MYANMAR - A boy plays in front of his home, destroyed by Cyclone Nargis. Photo by REUTERS/Stringer.

To DONATE:

Committee of 100 China Earthquake Relief Fund

American Red Cross Donations

AmeriCares Aid