A picture made available 27 May 2008 shows a young woman walking with an umbrella amonst the earthquake debris in Zhundao town, Mianzhu, Sichuan province, China, 26 May 2008. China now faces the daunting challenge of providing food and water to millions of displaced earthquake refugees. The official death toll of the 12 May 2008 earthquake has surpassed 65,000 with over 23,000 others still missing. According to China's Information Office of the State Council 14.38 million people have been relocated from areas affected by the earthquake. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS
Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers wearing biohazard protective suits walk on a street in Hangwan, China's southwest Sichuan province, 27 May 2008. Containing the spread of diseases is a high priority as millions of displaced people are at risk of being infected. The official number of confirmed death from the 7.9 magnitude earthquake has increased to 65,080 and a further 20,790 are still missing. Another five million people have lost their homes and now rising water levels near Tangjiashan in Beichuan county have forced the evacuation of a further 80,000 residents. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL
Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers wearing biohazard protective suits walk on a street in Hangwan, China's southwest Sichuan province, 27 May 2008. Containing the spread of diseases is a high priority as millions of displaced people are at risk of being infected. The official number of confirmed death from the 7.9 magnitude earthquake has increased to 65,080 and a further 20,790 are still missing. Another five million people have lost their homes and now rising water levels near Tangjiashan in Beichuan county have forced the evacuation of a further 80,000 residents. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL
Two-year old Chu Li scribbles on a black board inside a 'child friendly space' tent ran by Save The Children UK at a refugee camp in the town of Mianzhu, China's southwest Sichuan province, 27 May 2008. Save The Children UK has recruited kindergarten teachers from affected areas to help children cope with the emotional distress caused by the earthquake by trying to bring them back to their routines of playing and learning. Current estimates put the number of displaced children near 3 million, and organizations say it is the biggest disaster for children in seven years. The official number of confirmed death from the 7.9 magnitude earthquake has increased 65,080 and a further 20,790 are still missing. Another five million people have lost their homes and now rising water levels near Tangjiashan in Beichuan county have forced the evacuation of a further 80,000 residents. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL
A picture made available 27 May 2008 shows refugees collecting salvageable possessions amongst the debris in Zhundao town, Mianzhu, Sichuan province, China, 26 May 2008. China now faces the daunting challenge of providing food and water to millions of displaced earthquake refugees. The official death toll of the 12 May 2008 earthquake has surpassed 65,000 with over 23,000 others still missing. According to China's Information Office of the State Council 14.38 million people have been relocated from areas affected by the earthquake. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS
A picture made available 27 May 2008 shows a woman standing on the rooftop of a building damaged by the 12 May 2008 earthquake, as workers behind begin to dismantle a water tower that threatens to collapse in Zhundao town, Mianzhu, Sichuan province, China, 26 May 2008. China now faces the daunting challenge of providing food and water to millions of displaced earthquake refugees. The official death toll of the earthquake has surpassed 65,000 with over 23,000 others still missing. According to China's Information Office of the State Council 14.38 million people have been relocated from areas affected by the earthquake. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS
A picture made available 27 May 2008 shows a man walking beside a destroyed building while carrying an empty bucket to fill with water at an earthquake refugee camp in Zhundao town, Mianzhu, Sichuan province, China, 26 May 2008. China now faces the daunting challenge of providing food and water to millions of displaced earthquake refugees. The official death toll of the 12 May 2008 earthquake has surpassed 65,000 with over 23,000 others still missing. According to China's Information Office of the State Council 14.38 million people have been relocated from areas affected by the earthquake. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS
A picture made available 27 May 2008 shows a man riding a motorbike on a street torn apart by the earthquake in Zhundao town, Mianzhu, Sichuan province, China, 26 May 2008. China now faces the daunting challenge of providing food and water to millions of displaced earthquake refugees. The official death toll of the 12 May 2008 earthquake has surpassed 65,000 with over 23,000 others still missing. According to China's Information Office of the State Council 14.38 million people have been relocated from areas affected by the earthquake. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS
A picture made available 27 May 2008 shows a refugee drinking water from a bowl at an earthquake refugee camp beside destroyed buildings in Zhundao town, Mianzhu, Sichuan province, China, 26 May 2008. China now faces the daunting challenge of providing food and water to millions of displaced earthquake refugees. The official death toll of the 12 May 2008 earthquake has surpassed 65,000 with over 23,000 others still missing. According to China's Information Office of the State Council 14.38 million people have been relocated from areas affected by the earthquake. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS
Mothers hold framed photographs of their children that perished in the 12 May 2008 earthquake at the Fuxing Number Two Elementary School, in Wufu town, Mianzhu city, Sichuan province, China, 26 May 2008. Parents gathered on the grounds of the destroyed school, furious that the surrounding buildings were mostly untouched during the quake but the school was completely annihilated and 127 children died there. The three-story school had only one exit 1.2 metres wide and parents are demanding an investigation and punishment of responsible officials. State media has reported that at least 5,498 children have been left on their own as a result the quake, either by becoming orphans or being seperated from parents. The official death toll is over 62,000 with 23,000 others missing. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS
A mother wails while holding the framed photograph of her child that perished in the 12 May 2008 earthquake at the Fuxing Number Two Elementary School, in Wufu town, Mianzhu city, Sichuan province, China, 26 May 2008. Parents gathered on the grounds of the destroyed school, furious that the surrounding buildings were mostly untouched during the quake but the school was completely annihilated and 127 children died there. The three-story school had only one exit 1.2 metres wide and parents are demanding an investigation and punishment of responsible officials. State media has reported that at least 5,498 children have been left on their own as a result the quake, either by becoming orphans or being seperated from parents. The official death toll is over 62,000 with 23,000 others missing. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS
Parents and grandparents hold framed photographs of children that perished in the 12 May 2008 earthquake at the Fuxing Number Two Elementary School, in Wufu town, Mianzhu city, Sichuan province, China, 26 May 2008. Parents gathered on the grounds of the destroyed school, furious that the surrounding buildings were mostly untouched during the quake but the school was completely annihilated and 127 children died there. The three-story school had only one exit 1.2 metres wide and parents are demanding an investigation and punishment of responsible officials. State media has reported that at least 5,498 children have been left on their own as a result the quake, either by becoming orphans or being seperated from parents. The official death toll is over 62,000 with 23,000 others missing. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS
A picture made available 27 May 2008 shows refugees waiting in line for food at an earthquake refugee camp in Mianzhu, Sichuan province, China, 26 May 2008. China now faces the daunting challenge of providing food and water to millions of displaced earthquake refugees. The official death toll of the 12 May 2008 earthquake has surpassed 65,000 with over 23,000 others still missing. According to China's Information Office of the State Council 14.38 million people have been relocated from areas affected by the earthquake. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS
GeorgeMay 29th, 2008 - 17:32:23
I was impressed by the fast and effective response by the Chinese government. Not to be compared to the deplorable response by the Federal-State-city governments after Katrina (believe me I was there in New Orleans). I am an expat now living in Shanghai, China and I even volunteered to go to Wenchuan county in Sichuan province. What I also admire is the spirit of the Chinese people to never give up and their ability to look pass differences and work together. That spirit is unfortunately lacking in the US and thats why I no longer want to live there. In China people work together and get things done. I LIKE THAT!
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