Chinese charity begins relief work for flooding that began in June

Published: 2004-08-10

HONG KONG (CNS) -- A Catholic charity in China has begun flood-relief work, while local church personnel around the country are stretching their resources to assist people hard hit by rains and flooding. Since late June, unusually heavy downpours have hit 18 of the 31 mainland provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, mainly in central and northern China, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. UCA News said that as of Aug. 5 more than 71 million people were reported to have been affected, with damage to 340,000 houses and nearly 14 million acres of crops, according to China's Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters. Some areas still report some heavy rainfall. Beifang Jinde Catholic Social Service Center, based in Shijiazhuang, some 200 miles southwest of Beijing, is helping some people recover from the disaster. The center was established by the bishops of Hebei province. Sister Xia Xiaolei, head of the center's relief section, told UCA News Aug. 5 that the organization has begun a relief project in Guangxi autonomous region, in southwestern China.

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