ＮＺＣＦＳ Ｅａｒｔｈｑｕａｋｅ Ｐｒｏｊｅｃｔｓ Ａｓ ａｔ Ｍａｙ ２００９

The earthquake of May 12， 2008， with its epicentre in Sichuan， killed over 70，000 people， several million were left homeless， and many farmers’ livelihoods were destroyed. New Zealand China Friendship Society (NZCFS) undertook a major nationwide fundraising effort， in many places in partnership with other organizations such as the Chinese Association. A total of $36，741 was raised.

NZCFS executive members Sally Russell and Dave Bromwich spent several weeks in August last year in Sichuan and neighbouring Shaanxi Province， which also suffered damage from the devastating earthquake. As an outcome of this visit NZCFS supported 3 communities in these areas with four projects. The sums raised were used to apply for further grants of $219，617 form NZAID emergency relief and community development project funds. These are the HAF， Humanitarian Action Fund， and KOHA-Partnerships for International Community Development Fund. The total sent was $256，358 to four projects either for reconstruction work or to assist rural people get their livelihood back on track.

In April this year， Dave Bromwich visited China and was pleased to see the projects our fundraising has supported nearing completion. The overall progress being made in reconstruction throughout the devastated regions is reported to beahead of schedule. Below is a summary of the projects supported， with updates on progress as at April 2009:

Sichuan Province

In the following two projects in Sichuan， NZCFS has ICCIC， or Gung Ho， as our China partner， and they are using the Pengzhou Rural Development Bureau to implement the project at a local level.

Livelihood reconstruction in Pengzhou County， Sichuan

NZCFS $6，907HAF $62，164

Pengzhou County borders Wenchuan County (where the epi-centre was) so the overall damage is severe. Pengzhou is a major vegetable supply area for Chengdu and other parts of China as the selenium levels in the soil are high. In the community of Huang Village selected for this project， the earthquake damage to irrigation channels caused farmers annual income to drop from 2，300 RMB to 880 RMB. There are 886 households in this project.

Local Government is responsible for the main channels and have secured funding for that repair work and this project is to provide materials to reconstruct 1，500 metres of minor irrigation channels which farmers are responsible for， and the local farmers are providing the labour. An extra requirement was identified to re-level the land as a result earthquake upheaval prior to repairing the channels， and this cost is being met by local government.

In mid-April， all reconstruction work was well underway， with an expected completion date of early May.

Community rehabilitation of selected communities in Pengzhou County， Sichuan.

NZCFS $9，103KOHA $36，414

This project will work in two areas to develop co-operatives; in Danjingshan Township to assist with the development of a tea industry and in the three villages communities of Paifang Vegetable Cooperative where the irrigation channel repair project is occurring. In Danjingshan， the earthquake caused major slips， which ruined the scenic beauty and destroy the tourism industry. Tea is seen as a very suitable alternative industry as it grows well in the climate and will be an organic product. This project commenced in April 2009， and will continue until the end of the year， with training including enhancing cooperative management and marketing by the cooperative. This project will eventually benefit over 5，000 households.

Shaanxi Province

Walnuts in Lueyang County， Shaanxi with Shaanxi Women’s Federation (SXWF)

NZCFS $14，088

KOHA $56，253

This project is designed to assist farmers from villages in Guozhen Township whose house in the mountains were destroyed， with an improved income through the planting of a new variety of walnut with higher yields on dwarf rootstocks for early returns， and to improve their chestnut varieties. Between November 9th-15th forestry technical staff and Lueyang Women’s Federation were in Guozhen to provide guidance to the villagers and all the walnut trees were planted. On April 3 Dave Bromwich attended a training session for grafting chestnuts organized for farmers from 15 villages.

Honghuapu Township Clinicreconstruction with Shaanxi Women’s Federation

NZCFS $6，643

HAF $64，786

The clinic is in the poorest township in Fengxian County， Shaanxi Province， where Rewi Alley worked and lived. The earthquake damaged the foundations of the clinic， and it was condemned. The total cost to rebuild is $404，000 and with contributions of $215，000 from the Red Cross， $65，000 from local government and NZCFS’ $71，429 this leaves a shortfall of $52，571 which they will be able to get through government loans. On April 1 Dave Bromwich inspected the rebuilding， and the main construction is expected to be completed by early May， with the building ready for use by August. The construction design uses heavy steel reinforcing to withstand a future minimum 8.0 earthquake. The new clinic will have capacity to provide more extensive medical services， including for pregnant women， and deliver to a broader community than the previous clinic. There are over 6，000 people who will directly use this clinic.