China: Support for survivors of the earthquake in 2008 - Caritas und Malteser International hand over old people’s home

China: Support for survivors of the earthquake in 2008 - Caritas und Malteser International hand over old people’s home

Cologne. On 18 November, Caritas International and Malteser International, the relief service of the Order of Malta for worldwide humanitarian aid, will hand over an old people’s home, financed with private donations from Germany, to the local authorities of Gu Cheng, China. The house will provide permanent accommodation for elderly people who had been severely affected by the earthquake in May 2008. Due to the earthquake which struck the region of Sichuan, 1,500 kilometres southwest of Peking, two and a half years ago, more than 85,000 people died and 5.8 million lost their houses. Until today, the residents of the former nursing home that had been entirely destroyed by the earthquake had to live in emergency shelters and tents. The new earthquake-resistant construction of the old people’s home now offers an increased capacity for 120 elderly people instead of 30. In consequence of the earthquake, an increased number of elderly people now rely on external support due to the traumatic experience and the loss of relatives.

The construction of the new old people’s home was possible thanks to the cooperation with Caritas International and the Chinese partner organisation Jinde Charities. The new home for the elderly could be realised with financial support of an international corporate group and built within two years. Malteser International had made the contact between the group and Caritas and supervised the construction progress.

Malteser International is the worldwide relief agency of the Sovereign Order of Malta for humanitarian aid. The organisation provides aid in about 200 projects in more than 20 countries without distinction of religion, race or political persuasion. Christian values and the humanitarian principles of impartiality and independence are the foundation of its work.

For further information: www.malteser-international.org and www.orderofmalta.orgFurther information:Petra Ipp-Zavazal, Senior Desk Officer International Communication, Tel.+49 (0) 221/9822-155, Fax +49 (0) 221/982278-179;Petra.ipp@malteser-international.org; www.malteser-international.org