2010年4月16日，甘肃
在星期三早上7时49分，青海省的玉树县发生了一场黎克特制7.1级地震及持续余震。根据最新的官方报告，地震遇害的人数，已升至760人，受伤人数亦在24小时内由9千多人，升至超过11,000多人，另10万名灾民无家可归。
青海省是中国的贫穷省份之一。我在乐施会工作的经验，贫穷令人们在天灾发生时更为脆弱，而他们在事件中更加受苦。加上当地是高原地带，空气稀薄，增加了救援难度。(玉树县高达海拔4千多米)
此外，寒冷天气带来一大挑战。在这个季节，当地气温在晚上可跌至摄氏零度以下，乐施会决定优先发送棉被给灾民。
乐施会已兵分两路出发，成都办事处的同事从四川出发，运送1,000张御寒厚棉被及1,000卷用作搭建临时房屋的彩条布，到同时受地震影响的四川甘孜州石渠县。兰州办事处的队伍亦已出发，运送1,000张御寒厚棉被往青海玉树县。
虽然我们预计，天气及道路情况恶劣，但我们希望可以能赶在四月十七日(星期六)的凌晨抵达。另外600个帐篷亦随后付运。
魏明涛(在货车上)，乐施会兰州办公室农村发展与灾害管理助理项目干事，正前往玉树县的途中。
Oxfam going full speed in response to Qinghai Earthquake
Wei Mingtao works with Oxfam Hong Kong’s Rural Development and Disaster Management Team
16 April, 2010, Gansu Province
On Wednesday, 14th April, at 7:49 am (local time), a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit Yushu County in Qinghai Province, followed by a series of aftershocks. Official figures estimate the death toll at 760, and the number of injured at 11,000 – up from 9,000 in less than 24 hours. More than 100, 000 survivors became instantly homeless.
Qinghai is one of China"s poorest provinces. From my work with Oxfam, I have learned that poverty is the key source of people’s vulnerability to disasters, making them more likely to suffer during such events. To make matters worse, the geographic location of Yushu County has made rescue work quite difficult, with its high altitude and thin air (Yushu is 4,000 m above sea level).
The biting cold weather has also posed huge challenges. During this season, the temperature could drop to zero degrees Celsius, or even below. Oxfam Hong Kong has thus prioritised sending blankets for the survivors.
Oxfam Hong Kong has sent out two teams from its offices in Chengdu and Lanzhou, from the neighbouring provinces of Sichuan and Gansu, respectively. The Chengdu team is now on its way to Shiqu County in Sichuan, which was also affected by the earthquake; the team will be distributing an initial 1,000 blankets and 1,000 water-proof sheets as temporary shelter. The Lanzhou team is on its way to Yushu County, also with an initial 1,000 blankets.
Although we anticipate difficult travel and weather conditions, we hope to be able to deliver the much-needed items by Saturday, 17th April. Another 600 tents will be delivered soon after.
