Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Xinhua - English-China's aid to tsunami victims sets record

Xinhua - English: "China's aid to tsunami victims sets record
www.chinaview.cn 2006-01-18 12:15:05

China participates in major int'l emergency relief operations

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- China's humanitarian aid to countries stricken by the Indian Ocean tsunami is by far the largest one both in scope and in value in China's history of providing emergency relief for foreign countries.

Vice Minister of Commerce Chen Jian made the remark here Wednesday at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office.

On Dec. 26, 2004, a tsunami took place in the Indian Ocean, and right on the next day, the Chinese government announced to provide 21.63 million yuan (2.7 million U.S. dollars) worth of emergency humanitarian relief in kind and cash, he said."

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

St. Paul Pioneer Press | 01/17/2006 | A gift of shelter

St. Paul Pioneer Press | 01/17/2006 | A gift of shelter: "A gift of shelter
Left homeless by the tsunami, 50 families in Sri Lanka begin moving into new houses built in a picturesque subdivision, thanks to efforts and donations from Minnesotans.

MONROVIA ESTATE, SRI LANKA

BY BRIAN BONNER

Pioneer Press

In the past 18 months, Samarage Abeyrathna lost his wife to a car accident, his house to the tsunami and his mother to natural causes.

Left alone to raise three young daughters, the 43-year-old jobless man's poverty and suffering are not likely to end soon. But he'd have no chance for a better life without a house. And now he's got one. 'This is the only consolation I have at the moment,' he said.

Whatever the future holds, Monday was a day for celebration. It was the official move-in for 50 families at the birth of a village."