Prayers and support after earthquake in China

On Saturday, April 20, a 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck Sichuan Province in central China. Approximately 200 deaths have been reported with over 1.5 million people affected by this tragedy. Local authorities and emergency rescue teams are struggling to get through to the affected areas.  Aerial shots of Lushan county show that over half the buildings have collapsed near the epicenter. With communications down, the full extent of casualties and damage is unknown. 

Episcopal Relief & Development immediately reached out to our long-time partner, the Amity Foundation, to offer our solidarity and support. The Amity Foundation has dispatched staff to the impacted region. They have already begun the distribution of relief items within the 24 hours of the initial tremor.

Emergency activities have been impacted by close to 1,000 aftershocks. The quake also caused multiple landslides, taxing power connections and phone lines in the region. Amity has identified two of the most affected areas in Tianquan and Boaxing townships 

Tianquan School.  Nearly 800 of the 2,600 students were boarding at the school, and are now residing in tents in the playground. Amity is providing temporary housing, food and water.   as their initial base of operation. Their relief supplies have been distributed at