As many of you know, we were in China during a time when they were slammed by the worst winter storm in more than 50 years. Fortunately, we were able to make it out with little Mia. However, the storm continues on, causing an unfathomable swath of suffering in its wake. You can read about it in any numerous of places such as http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-01/29/content_6427295.htm. I've also blogged a bit about the experience and can tell you first-hand just how unprepared they are for such a crisis. It did not appear that they had snow removal equipment, they do not treat the roads (with salt, chemicals, etc), and their overall emergency response system seemed extemely lacking.
Public transportation was a nightmare. In Nanchang, for example, while we were waiting for our plane there was what appeared to be a riot among the people who were trying to get on a plane. The airport had been shutdown for hours and people grew panicked. In more than one province, we heard reports of the military having to restore order among the travelers. And this was before the worst of the storm had even hit.
In Guangzhou, even, where they typically enjoy sub-tropical weather, there were lines of people waiting for a train that went for blocks outside the station. People just stood there, clutching their luggage and bracing themselves under protective layers.
For individual families in the Jiangxi province, it is not unusual for there to be air conditioning but there are almost never any furnaces, boilers, or heaters of any kind. I asked our local guide, Cindy, what people do during such harsh conditions. She said something to the effect of, "It just doesn't normally get this cold and so people just stay indoors and try to stay warm." Perhaps this is, in part, why the Chinese are so big on wearing layers and obsessively bundling their children.
And lastly, you can imagine what such conditions means for an orphanage. Below is an email that we received today from our adoption agency. It really hits home that, in the Jiangxi province for example, our little Mia could be one of those little ones having to survive these conditions.
"Dear Friends of Children's Hope,
South China has been hit by massive winter storms and frigid temperatures that have devastated entire provinces, causing water shortages, power outages, and freezing deaths. Few people have heaters or other cold weather resources in this sub-tropical climate, and most orphanages are ill-equipped to keep the children warm and fed during this crisis. Join the emergency effort to reach more than 1,000 children in 10 orphanages in the hardest hit areas with warm clothes, bedding, heaters, food, water, and other critical supplies - go to www.HelpAnOrphan.org or Click Here to learn more from Melody Zhang in Beijing and find out how you can help. Thank you for sharing your blessings with children in need.
The Children's Hope Development Aid Team.
note: the first picture was taken from tigardtimes.com. The second picture is also not my own.
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