Two years ago, on May 12, 2008, a powerful 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck Sichuan province in western China, killing more than 87,000 people and destroying 5 million houses. The American Red Cross provided 200 students in Guangyuan district with disposable cameras to document their lives now. Watch the video to see some of the winning photographs and learn more about how these students have recovered.
- The American Red Cross is restoring access to clean water in the remote and mountainous areas of Guangyuan, in Northern Sichuan. These water systems will benefit villagers in 19 earthquake affected localities, and will support more than 13,000 people, 11 clinics, and 4 schools.
- The global Red Cross network shelter support program, targeting more than 62,000 families, has been completed. Those helped by the Red Cross included families who had lost loved ones, whose family members were disabled in the quake, or who suffered from serious illnesses.
- More than 5,000 farmers and 600 disabled earthquake survivors are receiving vocational training by the Red Cross in such skills as breeding pigs, growing kiwi fruits and running farmhouse restaurants.
- Red Cross community-based disaster preparedness and health programs are being implemented, in order for communities to play a more proactive role in preparing for the hazards they face.
- Nine new disaster preparedness centers will be constructed throughout the disaster area so that the local Red Cross branches have the capacity to respond immediately to disasters with prepositioned relief supplies.