On May 12th, 2008, the “Great Sichuan Earthquake” occurred, with a magnitude of 8 and 8.3. The epicenter of the earthquake was in Wenchuan County, Sichuan province, 80 km west-northwest of Chendgu, the capital of Sichuan  The earthquake had a depth of 19 km, and was felt as far away as Beijing (1,500 km away) and Shanghai (1,700 km away), as well as in nearby countries.

As per July 6th, 2008, almost 70,000 are confirmed dead, 380,000 injured and still 20,000 people missing. The earthquake left 5 million people homeless officially, but over 11 million a closer figure to reality.

After the May 12th first earthquake, a second aftershock on May 25th of magnitude 6 hit northeast of Wenchuan County, in Qingchuan County, killing, injuring and destroying more. 2 days later, two more aftershocks occurred at magnitude 5.2 and 5.7 in neighboring provinces.

Millions of livestock and a significant amount of agriculture were also destroyed, including 12.5 million animals. Reports indicate that the poorer, rural villages were hardest hit. Estimates of the economic loss run higher than US$75 billion, making the earthquake one of the costliest natural disasters in Chinese history.

Many countries, international and local organizations, government representatives, individuals, companies, local and from abroad, immediately sent relief teams, funds and help to secure the people. The Internet has been extensively used to for passing information to aid rescue and recovery in China. The persistent heavy rain and landslides in Wenchuan County and its surroundings, badly affected rescue efforts.

On May 19th, 2008, the State Council of PR China declared a 3-day period of national mourning for the quake victims starting from May 19th.

The central government estimates that over 7,000 schoolrooms collapsed in the earthquake. Due to the PRC’s one-child policy, many families lost an only child when schools in the regions collapsed during the quake. As a result, local officials lifted the restriction for families whose only child was either killed or severely injured in the disaster. So-called “illegal children” under 18 years old, may be registered as legal replacements for their dead siblings.

As of  May 27th, 2008, 34 lakes had formed in nine earthquake-affected counties due to earthquake debris blocking and damming rivers, and it is estimated that 28 of them are still of potential danger to the local people. Entire villages had to be evacuated because of the resultant flooding. These so-called "quake lakes" also pose additional hazards as the natural dams forming them are breached, causing secondary flooding.

To help the people and children of China, we are organizing a relief fund, through which container houses will be sent to the region, to give a shelter to all the homeless people, provide temporary schools for the children, while houses and buildings are being built again. To the fund...