Day 13 May 24 2008, Saturday

Death Toll: 60, 650
Injury Toll: 352,290
Missing Toll: 26,221


Human traffickers busted for kidnapping babies from quake areas

Police in China busted a gang of five young women and one man for kidnapping babies from quake affected areas. They were first seen carried babies into a hotel and the proprietor's suspicions were aroused when the babies were all silent and asleep.

When they were questioned at the police station the women claimed to be mothers of the babies taking a train out of town to look for relatives. When their bags were searched, the police found nothing apart from diapers, milk powder and sleeping pills used to drug the babies.

The women later revealed that they were promised 1,500 yuan (about US$ 210) for each baby they smuggled out.

Adoption trafficking has been a lucrative form of illicit human smuggling activity in China, which is a popular country of choice for overseas couples looking to adopt. In the US alone, 5, 453 Chinese babies were adopted last year.

On average couples pay between US$20,000 and 25,000 to adopt a child. The problem arises when babies less than a year old are either sold by their parents or abducted and turned over to unorthodox orphanages for US$100 each. These orphanages then receive US $300 for every child that is placed.

Local police say they have found 37 such cases in the quake-affected areas.


Chinese President Hu Jintao visit a tent-making factory in Zhejiang Province

The factory had taken on the manufacture of 36,000 tents for the affected areas. 500 machines and 800 workers are operating 24 hours to rush production.

Day 12 May 23 2008, Friday

Death Toll: 55,740
Injury Toll: 292,481
Missing Toll: 24, 960
Number evacuated: 11, 367,929
Number of aftershocks measuring more than 4 : 175

The Chinese government releases figures associated with the relief efforts, demonstrating the massive scale of the operation.

Official figures as at 12 noon local time.
At the hospitals,

Number being treated for injuries: 73, 939
Discharged: 38,683
Died in hospital: 3,451

Funds received:

Donations pledged from within China and abroad: 24.644 billion yuan (US$ 3.52 billion)
Donations actually received: 169.24 billion yuan ( US$ 2.417 billion)
Additional funds allocated by Chinese government for relief efforts : 14.629 biliion yuan ( US$ 2.089 billion)

Relief items:

Number of tents sent to affected areas: 443, 340
Collapsable housing 18, 334
Blankets : 2, 319, 3470
Clothing: 3, 074, 526
Medical personnel on hand: 86, 517
Fuel oil : 315, 000 tons
Coal : 679,000 tons

Beijing releases guidelines for adopting quake orphans

The Ministry of Civil Affairs' hotline has been inundated with over 8,000 phone calls enquiring about adoption procedures for quake orphans. In response, Beijing says relief workers and local officials are still checking identities and working to reunite children with their families. Even if both parents are deceased it is also not unusual for Chinese children to be taken care of by their extended families, which may be living in other provinces.

So far the total number of actual orphans stands at around 80 and officials are still holding out hope to return the children to their own families, amidst the massive resettlement efforts going on.

Local media have widely publicised the cause of children affected by the quake and there has been much outpouring of concern and sympathy for the disasters' younger victims. Several families who are more well-off due to China's strict one-child per family policies, feel they are capable of providing a good environment for the children.

For the time being, those who wish to help the children are being advised that they can also help to donate to families and sponsor studies. At the same time, the central government has released the criteria and procedural guidelines for adoption.

Criteria for the adopting party:

1. Must be 30 years old and above
2. Meet basic criteria eg: received higher education, be able financially, have no bad records)
3. Be proven medically fit for adopting a child ( have no terminal, severe or infectious disease)
4. Those married must have the consent of both spouses.
5. Single men adopting girls must have an age gap of at least 40 years between them.

An orphan up for adoption is defined as a child under 14 years of age, who has lost both parents. Anyone adopting a child above the age of 10 must have the consent of the child.

Those wanting to adopt an orphan need to apply with the state or provincial social welfare organisation. Those seeking to adopt orphans being taken care of by close family may contact their respective guardians.

The hotline for enquiries is : 96156.

Right now, it is believed that the government will be dealing with domestic adoptions first. Those overseas wishing to adopt may have to wait.



VIDEO OF THE DAY

"I want you to regain the life you had before, claiming the promise of this life."

Veteran singer/actor Andy Lau re-penned the lyrics of Canto-pop band Beyond former hit, and Hong Kong's biggest names, singers, actors, past and present, came together to release a single titled "Promise" showing support and urging for donations to help the quake victims.

This video is a tribute to specially to the children of the Sichuan Earthquake.



The lyrics

(Chinese President Hu Jintao conveys to the people of Hong Kong his gratitude.)

How many people, how many people's happiness was stolen
How many lives were buried in a moment
All became silent, tears glistened in the eyes.
The dust was filled with disillusionment.
(I'd rather it was me.)

Don't have to say it, but you still have me behind you
Even if the future is difficult, I will still be there with you.
You and me, we are not weak when we bear the weight
The more we proceed the easier it will be.
( You still have me)

Anyone would fear facing the dark corners
For you, I will not hide even if it got tough.
I want you to regain the life you had before
Claiming the promise of this life.

( Chinese premier Wen Jiabao: You were fortunate to survive, you must live on well.)

Don't have to say it, but you still have me behind you
Even if the future is difficult, I will still be there with you.
You and me, we are not weak when we bear the weight
The more we proceed the easier it will be.

Anyone would fear facing the dark corners
For you, I will not hide even if it got tough.
I want you to revert to the life you had before
Claiming the promise of this life.

( When one side has a problem, all sides will help.
We support you.
Hope you who are far away hear our voices and know that our hearts are with yours
Our good friends in Sichuan, hang in there
We got your back.
All the victims don't give up, we are always supporting you,
Your lives will be rebuilt
We support you....)

Though the mountains shake and the earth rumbles
we must calmly prevail
There is you and there is me.

Anyone would fear facing the dark corners
(We are the world)
For you, I will not hide even if it got tough.
(We are the world)
I want you to revert to the life you had before
Claiming the promise of this life.

I want you to revert to the life you had before
Claiming the promise of this life.

Anyone would fear facing the dark corners
For you, I will not hide even if it got tough.
I want you to revert to the life you had before
Claiming the promise of this life.

Anyone would fear facing the dark corners
For you, I will not hide even if it got tough.
I want you to revert to the life you had before
Claiming the promise of this life.

Anyone would fear facing the dark corners
For you, I will not hide even if it got tough.
I want you to revert to the life you had before
Claiming the promise of this life.