Portland-based Aid Worker Leaves Today for China

Earthquake relief volunteers pay their respects to all the students who perished at the Juyuan Middle School in Dujiangyan, China Photo: Raul Vasquez for Mercy Corps

Portland, OR - A Mercy Corps aid worker, Michael Bowers, leaves Portland today to join the agency's earthquake response efforts in China. Bowers is Mercy Corps Regional Program Director for Asia and will help oversee emergency response efforts while planning for longer term recovery efforts, which will focus heavily on needs of youth. Staff in Portland are currently procuring pharmaceuticals and coordinating shipments with our local partner organizations

"Children are very vulnerable in post-traumatic environments and we're focusing on things we can do to help re-establish activities that can give them something to focus on such as temporary schools and sports programs," said Bowers.

Mercy Corps' Seattle-based aid worker in Chendgu province, Joy Portella, reported that it was a very emotional visit to the hard-hit town Mianyang near the quake's epicenter. She said everyone she met was missing someone and she visited a sports stadium that was serving as temporary housing for more than 20,000 displaced people. Mercy Corps staff participated in the national moment of silence at the time of the earthquake 2:28 PM to mourn victims.

Portella also reported chaotic scenes in the streets of Chengdu tonight as people left their homes or hotels planning to spend the night in the streets following reports of another earthquake.

Portella is sending daily dispatches from Chengdu that are posted on Mercy Corps web site www.mercycorps.org.

Mercy Corps is currently accepting donations for humanitarian assistance to earthquake victims. Distribution of donations will be monitored by Mercy Corps and reputable local partner organizations.

HOW TO HELP:
Mercy Corps
China Earthquake Fund
Dept NR
PO Box 2669
Portland, OR 97208
www.mercycorps.org
1-800-852-2100