7.9 Degree Earthquake in Sichuan Province

According to church sources, several hundred Christians are known to have died. More than 100,000 Christians in Sichuan have been affected to varying degrees. At least 19 churches have been badly damaged—some need major repairs, others will need to be completely rebuilt.

Hundreds of after-shocks shook Sichuan in the days after the giant quake. Those shocks soon died away, but the after-shock of bereavement, trauma and physical devastation will last for years. MSI, a Christian organization doing relief work in the disaster zone, has reported that it will take 3-5 years to rebuild 16 million homes and 7,000 schools, many of which collapsed due to poor construction.

Many groups and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from overseas rushed to bring emergency relief in the early days after the disaster, but Christians in Sichuan report that many of them left soon after. MSI and other Christian groups are determined to stay for the long haul to help with long-term reconstruction.

Chinese Christians note that after the quake, trauma and grief counseling were major needs. Secularly trained psychologists and therapists noted that it was unsatisfactory and insufficient to offer victims and survivors traditional words of consolation. e.g., “Be thankful that you were able to save some of your possessions, or that not all your family members were killed, or...” Instead, Chinese media, especially the internet, reported widespread usage of more religious language to help victims—talk of heaven, the afterlife, etc. What is of particular interest is that the language used for this more “spiritual” consolation was more Christian than Buddhist.

A Christian doctor working in the quake-stricken areas reported: “In the process of reconstruction, the greatest need is for medical personnel, counselors, teachers, social workers and other professionals. Only through united effort will it be possible to rebuild the economy, people’s livelihood, communities, schools and families.”

• A 7.9M earthquake struck Sichuan Province on Monday, May 12, 2008.
• The official number of casualties as of June 13, 2008 was 68,620; 17,445 missing; 374,142 injured.
• Almost five million homeless.
• More than 7,000 collapsed schoolrooms.

Sichuan is a province in western China, with its capital Chengdu. Sichuan has been historically known as the “Province of Abundance,” as it is one of the major agricultural production bases of China, providing the major production of grain, including rice and wheat, since 1999. Commercial crops include citrus fruits, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, peaches and grapeseed. Sichuan also had the largest output of pork and the second largest production of silkworm cocoons, of all the provinces. Sichuan is also one of the major industrial bases of China.

Source: http://mceer.buffalo.edu/infoService/disasters/china-earthquake-sichuan.asp cited 10/24/08.