An earthquake of a 7.1 magnitude hit Yushu County of southeastern Qinghai Province in northwest China at 7:49 am on Wednesday, 14 April, followed by a series of aftershocks. Official reports indicate that?791 people have been killed, and?294 people remain missing. The earthquake toppled 15,000 residential buildings, making about 100,000 people, mostly impoverished people, homeless.

Oxfam is now contacting the local government of Qinghai and potential NGO partners there to assess the situation and to determine an appropriate emergency response. Oxfam has allocated HKD 2 million and is preparing to send supplies from Chengdu in Sichuan Province, and Lanzhou in Gansu Province – Oxfam has field offices in both cities. Qinghai borders Sichuan and Gansu, and the epicentre is near the southeastern border.

“The freezing weather is a great challenge to survivors of the earthquake, many of whom are impoverished. Nighttime temperatures are dropping to zero or below Celsius, and Oxfam is ready to deliver thick blankets and water-proof sheet to people whose homes have been damaged or destroyed by the earthquake,” John Sayer, Director General of Oxfam Hong Kong, said.

Oxfam Hong Kong has assisted people in Qinghai in massive snowstorms in 1997 and 2008.