Our View--Information Issues in Relation to ‘98 China Floods

1. Our View--Information Issues in Relation to ‘98 China Floods Presentation at PacInfo’99 By Xiao Xing, Juan Jing, Red Cross Society of China

2. Summary • General information on Chinese Red Cross • ’98 floods in China • Information sources used /obtained by Chinese Red Cross during emergency situation • What are to be further improved • Conclusion

3. General information on Chinese Red Cross • Founded in 1904; • One of the members of International Red Cross since 1912; • 150,000 grass-root organizations and 20 million membership nationwide and; • To function as an auxiliary of authorities in humanitarian field in carrying out such tasks as disaster relief/preparedness, first aid, social welfare, blood transfusion and dissemination of International Humanitarian Law, etc.

4. ’98 Floods in China • General picture on floods situation • Losses and affected population; • Red Cross’ relief operations and; • Situation in affected regions so far.

5. General picture on floods situation • The YangtzeRiver Valley was hit by eight successive flood crests; • Record -breaking floods also hit the Nenjing River and Songhua River Valley, with successive flood crests and; • 12 provinces and more than 180 million people were affected.

6. Losses and affected population; • More than 180 million people were affected and 4,150 dead; • More than 18.3 million evacuated (homeless); • 6.85 million houses collapsed and more than 13 million damaged; • More than 22 million hectares of cultivated land affected, in which 5.29 million no harvest and; • Direct economic losses: 255 billion yuan (US$30 billion).

7. Red Cross’ relief operations and • Operations in 10 flood-hit provinces; • Offering 670 million in cash and kind; • More than 9000 medical teams serving victims and; • Beneficiary: 30 million people.

8. Situation in affected regions so far • The most of victims removed reconstructed houses or shelter houses; • Food and cloths available; • No epidemic diseases found in affected regions; • Some victims will face lack of food in this spring and; • Environment problem during coming spring.

9. Information sources used /obtained by Chinese Red Cross during emergency situation • What kind of information is needed? • Major channels to obtain information: • Information released by authorities; • Field assessment by local Red Cross, HQ’s team; • Media reports from both home and abroad and; • Telecommunication (no alternatives ways to obtain information so far).

10. What are to be further improved • Personnel training for obtaining and using of information source; • Alternatives communication tools (computer network, mobile satellite phone); • Seeking donation in cash and kind at emergency stage; • Transportation and; • Disaster preparedness.

11. Conclusion • Relief operations depend on external limited donation; • Personnel training; • Rapid response to disaster to be further strengthened and; • Alternative communication ways besides existing telecommunication.