May 20, 2008

A) Australian Support and Donations to the Chinese People in Sichuan:

The Chinese Embassy in Australia would like to express heartfelt thanks to the Australian government and the public for their sympathies and donations to the Chinese people in quake-stricken areas.

***The Australian Foreign Minister announced today that Australia will make another donation of relief goods valued at One Million Australian Dollars to the Quake-Stricken areas in Sichuan.

***Besides, in the meeting with the Chinese Ambassador HE Mr. Zhang Junsai today in Brisbane, the Honorable Anna Bligh MP, Premier of Queensland announced that Queensland will donate half a million Australian Dollars to the People in the disaster areas in China.

***Furthermore, the Lord Mayor of Brisbane Mr. Newman announced when meeting the Chinese Ambassador this morning that Brisbane would offer 100,000 Australian Dollars for the quake relief in China.

***By 5:30PM on May 20th, the total amount of donations from the Australian Public sent to the Embassy's Account has risen to A$343,000 Australian Dollars.

B) China earthquake death toll rises to 40,075

***The death toll in China's major earthquake by 6:00PM on May 20th Tuesday rises to 40,075 according to Xinhua News. The number of injured in the disaster is 247,645.

***There still Occurred after-shocks in Qingchuan and Mianxin counties which measured around 4.0 on Richter Scale.

***Over 12.35 Million people have evacuated from the earthquake-stricken areas.

C) What's badly in need for the rescue is tents and Medical assistance.

D) The Ministry of Civil Affairs have allocated 278,462 tents, 783,984 quilts and 1.78 million cotton-padded clothes to the quake zones by 1 p.m. Tuesday. By Monday midnight, up to 360,159 people trapped during the quake had been rescued and transported to safe areas, among them 6,375 were excavated from rubble left behind by the quake.