In response to the recent heavy rainfall and flooding disasters in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the faith-based Amity Foundation initiated a flood disaster relief response on July 31.
Currently, the foundation is collaborating with local partner organizations in Xingtai City and Shijiazhuang City of Hebei Province, conducting disaster assessments and needs surveys, and procuring and distributing supplies, reported the foundation.
Since July 29th, some areas in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei have experienced extreme heavy rainfall, resulting in significant flooding in the Haihe River basin. The Ziya River, Daqing River, and Yongding River have all experienced flood disasters, and flood storage areas like Ningjinbo, Daluze, and Xiaoqing River have been activated. Severe floods and geological disasters have occurred in Hebei's Handan, Xingtai, Shijiazhuang, and Baoding districts, as well as in Beijing's Fangshan and Mentougou districts.
From 08:00 on July 29th to 11:00 on August 1st, most parts of Hebei Province experienced rainy weather, with an average precipitation of 154.3 millimeters. In southeastern Zhangjiakou, Baoding, Xiongan New Area, and other places, 1638 stations received over 250 millimeters of rainfall, with 164 stations in central Baoding and mid-western Shijiazhuang receiving over 500 millimeters, and the maximum precipitation of 1003.3 millimeters recorded in Zhaozhuang and Liangjiazhuang of Lincheng County, Xingtai. This round of rainfall was intense and prolonged, leading to incidents of flash floods and debris flows.
On July 31st at 18:00, the National Disaster Reduction Commission and the Ministry of Emergency Management initiated a Level IV national emergency response for the rainstorm and flooding disaster in Hebei Province. On the evening of July 31st, Amity Foundation completed the first batch of material procurement. As of 17:00 on August 1st, with the support of local partner organizations and volunteers, emergency drinking water and food supplies, including bottled mineral water, instant noodles, bread, and ham sausages, as well as raincoats and rain boots, were gradually delivered to severely affected villages in Zanhuang County of Shijiazhuang, Tang County of Baoding, Longyao County, and Neiqiu County of Xingtai, providing food support for local affected households, temporary shelters, and personnel on duty in the elevated areas.
To effectively respond to this typhoon and rainstorm flooding, as of now, Hebei Province has activated seven flood storage areas, relocating a total of 847,400 people, with significant demands for relocation and resettlement. The foundation was also working with rescue and disaster relief partners to assess needs and further carry out relevant assistance actions.
Currently, the foundation has launched fundraising campaigns on platforms such as Tencent Charity Foundation, Bilibili Public Welfare, Sina Wei Public Welfare, and Taobao’s Online Charity Store, hoping that all sectors of society will actively join its efforts to assist the flood-affected areas.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
