CHINA

Despite remarkable economic progress over the last twenty years, 120 million people in China still live in abject poverty on an income of less than $1 per day. Severe food shortages, especially in rural areas, are still a major concern. The IR team identified problems faced by children in accessing education. Rising school fees have been the major factor in an increased dropout rate. Other factors affecting students included the labour needs of families The conditions of the schools were really awful with mud-walled classrooms which are very hot in summer and very cold in winter. Some schools did not have sanitation facilities for the children.

Access to healthcare is also an area for concern. Effective access is prevented by the distance to the nearest medical facilities, the poor quality of local health care, and high costs. a typical rural clinic, “The clinic is run by a man from his house. He prescribes and distributes medicines even though he has no medical qualifications, and he also performs minor operations. This clinic serves 800 people, as the nearest hospital is 17km away by donkey cart.

Devastating floods hit the country earlier in 2001, and around 6,000 people were left homeless. They lived through the winter months in tents without electricity or adequate sanitary facilities. Islamic Relief was able to respond quickly, and had allocated $150,000 for relief efforts. Reconstruction work on new homes began in July 2002.

IR had assessed that China intervention will be both for long term and short term periods. The short term priorities were food distribution and assistance after disasters. Longer-term needs included improvements in water and sanitation, and micro-credit schemes to help people start up businesses. Operating with local partners, the IR programmes will focus on Gansu, Xingjiang, and Ningxia provinces.