On 18 December 2023, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck the south-eastern region of Gansu Province in China, followed by over 700 aftershocks and more than 155,000 buildings collapsed. In Jishishan County, one of the hardest-hit areas, more than 200 schools were forced to close, and many families were displaced. Furthermore, poor post-disaster sanitation conditions exposed children and their families to risks of communicable diseases. With funding from the Disaster Relief Fund, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Save the Children Hong Kong responded swiftly to provide children with education and hygiene kits to address these urgent needs.
Distributing Emergency Supplies to Sustain Learning and Daily Life
Twelve-year-old Hao Hao and his eleven-year-old sister, Miao Miao, were both forced out of school after the earthquake damaged the school building. Their father, who also teaches at the school, recalls the tremors with anxiety and emphasises the importance of hygiene supplies to protect children in the aftermath. In the relief kits we distributed, Hao Hao and Miao Miao received essential items, such as wet wipes, hand sanitizers, stationery, and educational items to support their daily hygiene and studies. Hao Hao, who loves studying Chinese, excitedly shared, “I’m thrilled to have these supplies! With the stationery and workbooks, I can keep up with my writing.”
Improving Hygiene for Post-Disaster Disease Prevention
By July 2024, Save the Children has distributed 24,793 sets of educational and hygiene kits to disaster-affected areas. This emergency response safeguarded school-age children’s right to continue their education and helped them maintain proper hygiene, protecting their health from infectious diseases. Additionally, these efforts supported children’s recovery in their daily lives and mental wellbeing amidst adversity.