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Jun,10


Plateau Perspectives Response

Response, Relief, and Recovery efforts by PP and YEQR


Our Response So Far

Plateau Perspectives responded to the request from prefecture government to assist in the relief work since 14 April 2010. In carrying out its work so far, PP has liaised with the prefecture Foreign Affairs, Health Bureau and Public Security Bureau, and also the provincial Public Security Bureau. Our emergency response has been profiled in national and international media, including BBC, CNN, CBC, Time Magazine and Global Times. The Global Times article can be viewed at http://china.globaltimes.cn/society/2010-06/537192.html.

Medical Camp in Yushu

In the first two weeks following the earthquake, Plateau Perspectives ran a medical camp that treated between 120 and 240 patients each day, for a total of more than 1,200 patients. PP also established a ?Samaritan Fund? so that individual patients needing further care can be assisted if and when they travel to Xining. Overall, all partners in prefecture government (and the local communities served) have been extremely appreciative

Caring for Patients in Xining

In Xining, nearly 300 patients under the care of several provincial hospitals received care packages, with items ranging from toothbrushes to new clothing, with the help of many volunteers in town.

Emergency Relief Supplies

Relief supplies have been purchased and distributed in Yushu, including items such as large tents, beds, cooking utensils, solar powered electric lighting and thermals (clothing). Such household supplies can greatly enhance people?s living conditions in the new relocation camps. Additional donations of good quality used clothes have also been received from FedEx and now await distribution.

Water Supply and Purification

Potable water is a necessary commodity, especially in relocated communities. Assistance was given in the start-up phase for a national project to expand water services in Yushu town, and now additional plans are under review to trial and demonstrate a low-tech (appropriate technology) system developed following the Sichuan earthquake. It is unclear, though, how much local communities recognize a need for supplementary purification, such that the future of this venture remains uncertain.

Training Workshops about Caring for Traumatised Children

A child and adolescent psychiatrist who runs an inpatient adolescent ward in the United Kingdom and whose daily work consists of speaking to traumatised children, will present workshops in Xining on 8-16 June 2010. Topics will include communicating with children, children who are distressed or upset, bereaved children, and also guidance on different approaches that are helpful and approaches that may be harmful when working with (i.e., supporting, counselling) traumatised people, especially children.

Building Sustainable Livelihoods

Over the past few years, Plateau Perspectives has also been working closely with local pastoral communities to help improve their quality of life, with a special focus on increasing economic opportunities; and amongst the options available is the development of appropriate tourism. Discussions are therefore already underway to develop a ‘Yushu Tourism Network’ that may help set the desired ’standard’ for tourism in the region, which should consider social, cultural and environmental factors as well as economic benefits. Following the earthquake, helping to rebuild and/or develop alternative livelihoods will be of great importance, and with a national focus now on Yushu as a major ecotourism destination, engaging with and supporting local Tibetan communities so that they may truly benefit from such new developments is a key role for us to consider.

May,29


Strong Aftershocks in Yushu

5.4 aftershock felt in Yushu


A 5.4 aftershock, the strongest since the initial quakes, was reported around the Yushu/Gyegu area.  There are no reported injuries at this time.  Our staff took several calls from friends and coworkers in Yushu who all reported that the situation wasn’t serious nor was it hampering relief efforts.  This is to be expected since the vast majority of Yushu residents are living in tents outside of town.  Reports did come in that the aftershock was much stronger on the west side of town while relief workers on the east side of town still felt the tremor.

For more information, see the attached links:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ifaZOssPu940zRRJ_SVzSlD0uJzg
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hLJ7QRT-HqTsxau5vn-Z7BkfsU8w




Magnitude 5.4
Date-Time Saturday, May 29, 2010 at 02:29:54 UTC
Saturday, May 29, 2010 at 10:29:54 AM at epicenter
Location 33.141°N, 96.153°E
Depth 50.7 km (31.5 miles)
Region SOUTHERN QINGHAI, CHINA
Distances 80 km (50 miles) WNW of Gyegu (Yushu), Qinghai, China
240 km (150 miles) NNW of Qamdo, Xizang (Tibet), China
365 km (225 miles) ESE of Tanggulashan, Qinghai, China
1950 km (1220 miles) WSW of BEIJING, Beijing, China
May,24


Relief Update

Relief Update+Recap as of 4:54pm local time on 5/24


We apologize for the lack of updates recently; the fact remains, however, that we are still very much involved in the relief efforts.

Disaster relief work in Jiegu/Yushu continues, as so many needs following the earthquake will persist for weeks and months to come. Up to three years may be needed for full reconstruction of the town … and this means that many local residents will have to live in their makeshift tent-homes for at least one winter, and probably two winters, before moving back to a semblance of normality. It is not an easy time, and we will continue to assist people in Yushu in as many ways as possible.

Specifically, we are now focusing our relief efforts on three fronts: distribution of emergency supplies, provision of clean water, and (discussions regarding) the possible establishment of a rehabilitation centre somewhere in the prefecture. Relief supplies currently being distributed to needy families in Jiegu include large tents, beds for the elderly, household cooking sets, solar powered lighting, thermal clothing, etc. Additional requests also are being made to assist with provision of fuel for heating and cooking. On-site we are cooperating with government and village leaders, other emergency relief camps, and local families. Regarding water, we are now arranging for a new low-tech (appropriate technology) water purification system to be trialed, which could meet the needs of several households per unit; and we also are in discussion with a large firm about the possible installation of an community-scale water purification system that can provide for over 10,000 people with one unit and could be used in township centers. Rehabilitation needs are equally great and we are therefore also exploring the different ways possible to assist in this area, as we already have on staff, or available, medical personnel well suited to help meet such needs.

Continued assistance is needed, however, to help carry out all of the above activities – particularly in the area of on-going financial support. The relief and recovery work following the devastating earthquake that affected Yushu on April 14, 2010, will need to be long-term and your support is enormously appreciated.

Thank you!

(if you are interested in helping with the needs listed in a financial capacity, please go here)

May,06


RELIEF UPDATE

Relief Updates as of 12:39am local time on 5/6


Over the past week we delivered 28 high-capacity water purification systems to Jiegu. On Tuesday we sent a team with two trucks full of tents for distribution to residents of the town, as well as checking on water purification efforts. They arrived in Jiegu today along with a chemical engineer to start assessing longer-term options for improving access to clean water and two Plateau Perspectives managers to discuss potential for delivery of additional relief supplies.

Apr,21


Relief Update + Pictures

Relief Updates as of 1:18am local time on 4/21


Our supply truck arrived mid-morning today with fresh food and medicines. The tents were soon set up, the generators were humming, and water was being filtered and treated for drinking. Medical personnel continued to see patients throughout the day despite a short storm of hail, snow, and rain. Beyond the routine trips, one medical transport driver reported being able to take two little girls to the airport for evacuation to the city where their parents are hospitalized.

Some doctors from team 2 needed to depart for Xining this morning to catch return flights home. They traveled over icy roads through driving snow for much of the 500 mile journey, but arrived safely in Xining before 9 PM local time. Additional medical personnel are now in Xining and are expected to travel to Yushu over the next few days.

Pictures after the jump…

Continue Reading »

Apr,20


RELIEF UPDATE

Relief Updates as of 12:38am local time on 4/20



Team 3 arrived in the Yushu area at approximately 10:30 PM on Sunday. They spent the night on the outskirts of town about a mile from our medical camp, then rendezvoused with the larger team early this morning. In addition to the supplies that they brought, another truck carrying medicines for our group also delivered six boxes this morning. There are many children coming through the camp with their parents, and often several just milling about, so some toys and distractions for the kids were also among the packages sent.

While the medical team in Yushu continued to see patients throughout the day, our team in Xining was purchasing 7 to 10 days worth of medications, medical supplies, food, and water for the camp. These were loaded onto a truck along with two high-capacity water purification systems, two generators, and three large medical tents. Team 4 (consisting of two water experts, two drivers, and one cook for the camp) departed with the supplies in the late afternoon and should arrive in Yushu tomorrow mid-day.

Apr,18


Relief Update

Relief Updates as of 10:20pm local time on 4/18


We were able to get our third team on the road to Yushu this morning at 7:15am.  Among the team were two doctors, three nurses, two logistics personnel, and two Yushu-born translators.  The team should be arriving this evening around 10pm local time.

Reports from teams already in Yushu indicate that the death toll will certainly continue to rise.  Today overall our medical teams treated less acute wounds while seeing an increase in more general illnesses.  The team was able to treat close to 140 patients with varying symptoms including stomach illness, dehydration, and high blood pressure.  A few patients were delivered to the airport for medical evacuation.

Our team members all reported stand-still traffic throughout Yushu due to increased rescue efforts and increased media coverage as well as a visit from the Chinese President, Hu Jintao.  One team member let us know that the streets were lined with semi trucks filled with relief supplies, front end loaders, as well as a few industrial cranes which all added to the significant delays- but will undoubtedly aid the overall effort.  Our team en route to Yushu saw very few cars leaving the city and heading for the provincial capital of Xining due to the significant delays in Yushu.

In Xining, our staff continued organizing logistics for teams that will be heading out around the middle of this week. We plan to send a large truck down tomorrow to deliver much needed supplies such as mass water purification solutions, tents, medicine, food, and power generators. Our next team to depart will likely consist of additional doctors and nurses from throughout China.

Plateau Perspectives and Yushu Earthquake Relief continue to find favor with the regional government, the Yushu government, and the Health Bureau in order to continue in the relief efforts.  The Health Bureau generously provided us with another medical tent which increased our ability to treat patients. We continue to be thankful for the privilege to help relief efforts in Yushu.

Apr,17


(BBC)China rescue effort builds after Qinghai earthquake

BBC Reports of Yushu Quakes


Soldiers, civilians and Tibetan monks combed through rubble in Qinghai province, two days after a powerful earthquake hit the remote region.

Heavy equipment and aid are now arriving in Yushu county, where 791 people are known to have died, with another 294 missing.

Local people say they believe the number of dead is much higher.

Visiting the area, Premier Wen Jiabao promised “all-out efforts” would be made to rebuild the devastated region.

With an estimated 15,000 houses destroyed in Yushu, thousands of homeless people and casualties have been waiting for help.

The BBC’s Damian Grammaticas, who has reached the worst-hit town of Jiegu, said the first thing he saw was a line of toppled pagodas, shops and other buildings.

He said many townspeople were fearful of going back even where their homes had survived. Others were leaving town, with whatever they could carry.

Heavy-lifting equipment has been brought in by road from hundreds of kilometres away and food, tents and medical supplies are arriving too.

One doctor said he had lost track of how many people they had treated.

“They just keep coming one after the other,” said Myima Jiaba, working at a makeshift hospital in Jiegu.

“Right now, what we need is a lot of medicine. We need antiseptics and antibiotics. And overall, we need more tents and food, and sanitation.”

READ MORE AT BBC NEWS

*please note that Plateau Perspectives and Yushu Earthquakre Relief are not affilliated with the BBC News

Apr,16


Jiegu

Footage of Jiegu literally minutes after the earthquake


Jiegu from mr name on Vimeo.

Apr,16


PP team arrives safely

Approximately 4:19am PP initial team arrives safely


PP and Yushu Earthquake Relief is happy to report that an initial team of non-governmental workers, doctors, and a surgeon have arrived in Jiegu/Yushu in conjunction with the Yushu prefecture government.  Over the next few days this team will be assessing needs on the ground and communicating back to personnel in the provincial capital of Xining.

Plateau Perspectives will also be sending one more team of doctors to the earthquake zone early tomorrow with the assistance and allowance of the Yushu and Qinghai government.

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Yushu Earthquake Relief