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Tuesday, May 13, 2008, 10:36 AM

Dear all,

Thanks very much for all your care and concern for the earthquake relief.

Peking Time 14:28pm on May 12, 2008, an earthquake at Magnitude 7.8  hit China, the quake center is in Wenchuan County Sichuan Province, which is located on north latitude 31.0°, east longitude 103.4°. Except Sichuan, other 20 provinces around Sichuan, including Yunan, Gansu, Chongqing, Guizhou, etc, are also affected. The earthquake was also felt in Nanjing which is 1500 Km away. It was reported that by 7:00 am, May 13,  a total of 313 times of aftershock happened after the first one, and quakes have induced large damage in locals, up to 7:00am May 13, altogether 9,219 persons were killed, including 50 from Chongqing, 118 from Gansu, 85 from Shanxi, and thousands from Sichuan. Except this, quite of facilities, rooms, schools are collapsed or severely damaged in the quake.

Source from Sichuan Radio shows that in Sichuan Province, death in Beichuan County increased to 7000; in Mianyang City, over 80 people died; in Zhongjiang County, the number is over 100; in Ganzi City, it is 14 people died; in Chengdu City, 323 people died, with more than 600 people injured; in Deyang City, the number is over one thousand. However, as both of local communication system and roads have been destroyed, we still can not get the exact information from Wenchuan, the quake center area, as well as some other severely affected areas.

Amity decided to give 1 million Yuan as the first grant for the emergency aid last night.We made the appeal for help and donation only a few hours after the earthquake happened. Right now, Mr. Yue Yaomeng, a staff is in Chengdu coordinating with our local partner for the earthquake relief. (person on the right in photo). Photos taken by Yue Yaomeng are sent back from Chengdu for your information. We received the 1st donation from a local resident last night at 10:00pm. Many caring have phoned Amity upon watching the news on Jiangsu TV station about Amity's actions and appeal for the earthquake.

I'll keep everyone informed of the latest information and in the meanwhile, we'd be grateful for your pray and your kind help to the victims in the earthquake.

Best wishes,

Tuesday, May 13, 2008, 3:37 P.M.

Dear Friends,

An earthquake of intensity 7.8 on the Richter scale devastated parts of Sichuan and surrounding areas on 12th May at 2.48 p.m. The intensity of the quake is equivalent to that of Tangshan some 30 years ago which killed 240,000. Schools, hospitals, factories and other buildings have collapsed killing thousands. The death toll is expected to reach 10,000 at least.

The earthquake destroyed up to 80% of buildings in the hardest-hit region, which was also affected by landslides, power failures and a near-total breakdown of communication. Since communication lines and roads have been destroyed, it is difficult to get precise information from Wenchuan, the epicenter of the earthquake, 90 km. from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province.

Amity has started releasing CNY 1 million in emergency funds as a first step. Mr. Yue Yaomeng, an Amity staff, arrived in Chengdu five hours after the quake and has set up an Amity Relief Office there. Amity will be coordinating its relief efforts with local partners and other Chinese
 NGOs.  Relief efforts will cover the provision of food and water, medicines, sanitation, quilts and temporary shelters for earthquake victims.

Since the earthquake has hit mountainous areas it will take a long time before local communities can recover from the devastation. Amity hopes to raise 10 million RMB for earthquake relief and rehabilitation. We are appealing to all our friends and partners in Hong Kong and overseas to provide any assistance possible to help those in pain and suffering from the earthquake. Your compassion will go a long way to bring hope and help to the many people less fortunate than us.

May God bless you and keep you in these challenging times.

Warm regards,

Theresa Carino
Coordinator
Amity Foundation Hong Kong Office

Tuesday, May 13, 2008, 6:51 PM

Dear all,

I'd like to give everyone an update of what Amity is doing in Sichuan Province.

Our latest information is that over 20,000 died and wounded in Beichuan County.Over 60,000 people are missing in Wenchuan County which is the epicentre of the earthquake while the total population in Wenzhuan is a little over 110,000. Du Jiangyan City, a school with over 1000 students collapsed, only 58 escaped, the rest are still missing。

Only a few hours after the earthquake took place, Mr. Yue Yaomeng, an Amity staff went to Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan Province at 7:00pm yesterday. Right now, Yaomeng is busy collecting information, purchasing water, compressed biscuits, tents and sheltering plastic. However, it is not easy to get the supplies at the moment.

The emergency relief goods once purchased will be delivered to Beichuan and Dujiangyan as soon as possible.

Please keep people in Sichuan in your prayers!

She Hongyu
Assistant Director
Research and Development Centre
The Amity Foundation

Tuesday, May 13, 2008, 10:33 PM

We've just contacted Amity staff working in Chengdu, Sichuan right now. Emergent supplies including drinking water and food will be transported to Du Jiangyan tomorrow. If things go smoothly, we'll move on to Beichuan. It's raining there--the most terrible thing after the earthquake. Please pray for us that the distribution will go smoothly tomorrow.

Here attached please find the appeal for the earthquake with specific budget requested (Word doc, 110 KB).

We would highly appreciate any assistance possible to help the victims to get over the most difficult time.

Best wishes,

She Hongyu
Assistant Director
Research & Development Centre
The Amity Foundation