Wenchuan Earthquake Taskforce: the Situation, Needs and Policies

Xiulan Zhang

June 21, 2008

Based on Bo Jingshan ( 防灾科技学院院长薄景山 ): “This is an earthquake may not happen for 10

00 years, with a magnitude of 8, and intensity of 11. The highest intensity is 12, and based on my best knowledge, I don’t know any quakes have reached intensity 12.

In China, most building set up at the standard of Earthquake intensity of 6 to 9. Beijing is set at 8, most Sichuan building is set at 7.

Est. Modified Est. Population

Perceived Shaking

Potential Structure Damage

Mercalli Intensity Exposure (k = x1000)

Resistant Vulnerable

X 603k Extreme V. Heavy V. Heavy

IX 692k Violent Heavy V. Heavy

VIII 4,301k SevereModerate

/HeavyHeavy

VII 12,396k Very Strong ModerateModerate/

Heavy

VI 15,484k Strong Light Moderate

V 89,480k Moderate V. Light Light

IV 192,012k* Light None None

II-III --* Weak None None

I --* Not Felt None None

The Situation (June 12, 2008)

Death toll: 69,170 Missing: 17,426 Injured: 374,159

Hospitalized: 95,732 More than 100,000 people need

migrating to other places.

WET

Established 4 days after the earthquake (June 16) State Council Emergency Management Experts Coun

cil ( 国家减灾委专家委员会 ); Institute of Disaster Reduction and Emergency Management by Ministry of Education ( 教育部 ), Ministry of Civil Affairs ( 民政部 ), and Beijing Normal University. 

Policy Expertise, Need Assessment, Pilot Models to Help Survivors, International Experiences, Trainings for Psychosocial Services

Core Working Team from ISDPP

Dr. Zhang Qiang, Qinghua University, Emergency Management, and Former Deputy Director of the State Council Emergency Management Office. General Secretary, Chengdu Base and Satellite Stations.

Dr. Hu Xiaojiang, Harvard University, Migration. International Center Dr. Qu Zhiyong, Beijing Normal University, Psychology. Intervention Progra

m Center. Dr. Zhang Huan, Qinghua University, Public Policy and Management. Policy

Center Dr. Zhou Ling, Qinghua University, Media and Public Policy. Media Center Dr. Zhang Xiulan, University of California at Berkeley, Social Welfare. Coord

inator Ada Ho, Harvard, Adjunct Research Fellow, CN Group Limited Miguel Salzar, Harvard University, Migration Dr. Wang Xiying, University of Hong Kong, Social Work Dr. Ba Zhanlong, National Nationality University, Ethnology Dr. Tao Chuanjin, People’s University, NGO Management Dr. Wang Xiaohua, Beijing Normal University, Psychology Dr. Liang Xiaoyun, Beijing Medical University, Public Health Dr. Xiao Shuqiao, Warwick University, Law Dr. Tian Ming, National Sciences Academy, Geography

We appreciate the support received from

CN Group Limited ( 中南集团 ) Cecilia L.W. Chan ( 香港大学陈丽韫教授 ) Ford Foundation ( 福特基金会 ) Ministry of Sciences and Technology （科技部 : Res

earch Project ） Beijing Normal University （北京师范大学 ) 尚青科技董事长沈延军

Our Activities (May 12 to June 12)

1 website 24 Policy Briefs 12 Policy Discussions CETV 19 sessions Internet 22 talks News report: 15 Hotlines 213 (May 31) Round table discussions: 3 and the 4th is coming in C

hengdu Internal Newsletters Daily policy discussions in MoST (25 sessions)

419 volunteers Trainings: 3 large scaled, over 100 people Music therapy: June 1 with 6 music musicians. Currently 39 mus

icians (6 groups): see separate report Experts in motion: welfare, education, psychology, medical, dam

age assessment, policy, etc Pilot programs in schools: Qingchuan and Dujiangyan Research proposals: MoST, Ford, Plan China, Cargill Translation of books: 800 pages on “Education in Emergency” a

nd 600 pages users’ guide on donation management Chengdu Base and Satellite Stations in Deyang, Mianyang and

Shifang, and new stations in Gansu, Pengzhou, Aba, Nanchong Field visits to Shan’xi and Gansu

WET at Ground-Zero

Information gathering Policy research Training of volunteers Donation management policy Coordination and networking Dispatch experts and resources Identification of programs and collaborators

Think-Tank of Wenchuan Earthquake Policy

Improvement in China’s national policy on disaster reduction, relief and emergency management. The overall relief response and emergency management

system; The capacity of relief response in different government

line agencies; Medium and long term relief program for vulnerable

population; Effective participation and coordination of the social

sector. Dissemination of recommendations.

Collaborative Governance in Catastrophes Linking social sector with policy process Bridging donations with needs Sharing experiences Providing technical assistance Linking knowledge, intervention, research

and policy making Establishing a M&E system

Wenchuan Earthquake Children Assistance, Rehabilitation and Education Fund

(WECARE)

Reports

关于加快出台汶川地震灾区农村长久性安置政策的建议

关于组织全国建筑评估单位支援灾区优先对校舍进行震后排查和评估的建议

灾区恢复重建应急性政策设计 5·12 汶川大地震农村社区恢复重建的政策建议 社会捐赠的管理和使用 NGO 的作用和贡献 社会响应的途径和机制

WET Satellite Stations

Sichuan: Chengdu base and 5 stations Gansu: Still working on it Shan’xi: 2nd visit and look for suitable place f

or the base

Resource Center

International Experiences Links with 48 international institutions/experts Program and training sessions are in the

planning stage Domestic Experiences

Links with 80 experts, and many institutions Sharing of expertise, and collaborations

Pilot Programs

Social worker trainings Psychotherapy trainings Programs with the Right to Play Programs with the Plan China Programs with a few schools Early Child Care and Education Caravan for Children Mobile Social Services Programs

Research Projects

Resettlement and Redevelopment Policies Vulnerable Groups Employment Social Assistances Families Communities Social Administration Migration Eight policy areas Social Issues Marriage and Hukou System Assets Etc

Assessing the damage in social dimensions and making evidence-based policy suggestions

Impact on communities Impact on families Impact on individuals Impact on public service deliveries Impact on employment Impact on marriage and land ownership Impact on local government Future plans Evidences for short-, mid- and long-term planning

policies Evidences for intervention programs

Methodology

Based on the earthquake intensity and the physical, economic and environmental damage, draw the sample

In-depth interviews with: Government Officials (city, county, township) Temporary Shelter Managers, Community leaders Teachers, healthcare staff, military, police officers, etc NGOs, Volunteers Tent dwellers, Survivors Reporters, Psychotherapists Social workers Employers Etc

Methodology, cont

Rural household surveys Urban household surveys Mapping the life events since the earthquake in 20

communities for each household Mapping the disease and illness patterns Mapping the after quake psychosocial symptoms Ethnology group is developing its own framework

now Policy database Collection of internet-based surveys

Data Collection

Large-scaled studies: June 18 to July 31 Longitudinal: June 20- Policy Database: May 12- Other: May 12- Specific Studies

First social damage assessment: July 20 to August 20

Social Participation Mechanism: August 20

Thank You!!