Unrelenting summer rains have caused some of the worst
floods in years across central and southern China. The floods, which have
killed 40 people, have destroyed nearly 40,000 homes and caused around $1.57
billion in damages.
Despite the hardships caused by the flood, large-scale
damage has been avoided due to the effective response to the flood, which has
consisted of tens of thousands of soldiers, police and civilian volunteers. The
centralized Chinese economy allows for quick responses to national disasters
and effective collaboration between government ministries to provide relief.
The disaster relief officials have provided blankets, food and shelter to the
nearly one million Chinese displaced by the disaster.
“From my
experience, the Chinese government and the Chinese Red Cross are doing a
commendable job in responding to emergencies, whether it’s flooding,
earthquakes and other natural disasters,” said Ramsey Rayyis, the regional
representative of the American Red Cross in China.
The response of China to national disasters
provides a model for all countries.
