Jinde’s First Response, a Report
On May 19, 2008 Bishop Joseph Li Liangui of Xianxian Diocese and vice-chairman of Jinde Board of Directors held an emergency meeting at Jinde. He later flew that evening to the worst hit areas in Sichuan province accompanied by Fr. Paul Han, vice-director of Jinde Charities and Mr. Wolfgang Gerstner and Ms Christina Grawe of Caritas Germany members. They arrived in Chengdu, provincial capital of Sichuan at midnight and were met by Fr. Li Zhi Gang, administrator of Chengdu Diocese who arranged for their board and lodging.
Early on May 20, despite of the long journey and aftershock tremors, Bishop Li, with the help local people went to Sichuan Deyang city and Shi Fang city to visit the sisters who were giving services to the victims of the disaster. In the afternoon, the team returned to Hongbai town of Shi Fang city, 30 km from Wenchuan, the quake epicenter. They were not able to go visit Wenchuan as the road was blocked.
The 45 volunteers, sisters and lay, have been assigned duties by the Disaster Relief Command headquartered in Luoshui town of Shi Fang city. They work in Deyang and Shi Fang city. The sisters who were qualified to work on emergency medical situations were given direct orders to care for the sick and the wounded while those without medical qualifications were assigned duties in logistics or in post disaster epidemic prevention.
As agreed on the May 19 Emergency Meeting, the purpose of Bishop Li’s visit (together with the representatives of Jinde Charities and Friends of Jinde) was to assess the situation on the front lines, first hand and to find out the urgent needs and concerns of both the people gravely affected by the quake and the Jinde volunteers. After this assessment, Jinde will take the appropriate and timely use of the funds donated by the clergy and the faithful, individuals and organizations (funding partners), both at home and overseas. Jinde, in behalf of the mainland and overseas donors, will lay out and implement a comprehensive and immediate response to the situation in the affected areas in Sichuan. In accordance to the practice of international disaster relief and its experiences in dealing with Caritas International, Jinde Charities will also work out action plans for long-term and sustained reconstruction and rehabilitation projects.
The mayor of Luoshui town, Shi Fang, and the person responsible for the Disaster Relief Command Headquarters, Lan Yong told Jinde reporters the following,
We are very satisfied with the help given by the Jinde team of volunteers. Especially the Sisters. Rain or shine, they would carry the heavy load of disinfectant daily, moving around to disinfect the surroundings. Every day we can see their petite shadows, carrying out their work tirelessly. They bring to the disaster victims much consolation and blessings! We are very satisfied and we appreciate the silent dedication of these sisters.
Bishop Joseph Li Liangui told our reporters that there are 45,000 people in Luoshui town and there is an urgent need for tents and rice. The Bishop suggested Jinde Charities to provide such things as soon as possible, through cooperation of the Local Relief Command Center.
Fr. Paul Han, Vice Director of Jinde, expressed hope that the Church NGOs, overseas and at home would collaborate in relief intervention, both immediate and long-term.
At present, Jinde Charities has received the first donation of 1 million yuan from Caritas Germany. Caritas France promised half a million yuan, while Caritas Offices in Australia, Portugal, Spain and the UK have expressed their willingness to collaborate with Jinde Charities in the immediate relief intervention and long-term reconstruction of the Sichuan disaster areas. Jinde Charities has also made contact with the Chengdu Diocese and Wanzhou Diocesan Catholic Social Service Center and has reached the consensus of carrying out the disaster relief work in the name of the clergy and faithful both at home and abroad. Some dioceses and religious congregations have been requesting to be Jinde volunteers.
A Taiwanese psychologist from the States has telephoned Jinde Team to find out the possibility of offering her services on May 19. Soon this psychologist will go with two other Taiwanese psychologists to the front lines to help out with grief counseling and therapy to the victims.
Ms. Feng Li Hong, responsible for disaster relief of Jinde Charities has been accompanying the sisters to the disaster areas. She reminds future volunteers to bring along their medical qualifications; otherwise they would not be assigned to patient treatment centers to help the sick and the wounded.