China says death toll in quake more than 51,000
China said the toll of dead and missing from last week's powerful earthquake jumped to more than 80,000, while the government appealed Thursday for millions of tents to shelter homeless survivors.
The confirmed number of dead rose nearly 10,000 from the day before to 51,151, Cabinet spokesman Guo Weimin told a news conference. Another 29,328 people remained missing and nearly 300,000 were hurt in the May 12 quake centered in Sichuan province, he said.
The disaster left 5 million people homeless and leveled more than 80 percent of the buildings in some remote towns and villages near the epicenter. In bigger cities entire apartment blocks collapsed or are now too dangerous to live in because of damage and worries about aftershocks.
"We need more than 3.3 million tents," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters, adding that 400,000 tents have already been delivered. It was the second call for tents from China in recent days.
"We hope and welcome international assistance in this regard. We hope the international community can give priority in providing tents," he said.
U.S. aid to earthquake victims totals $2.8 million, Ambassador Clark T. Randt Jr. said, including medical equipment and satellite images of damaged infrastructure. The American Red Cross had donated $10 million, and American companies operating in China have pledged more than $34 million.
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Member Comments
Posted By: dreamer1 @ 05/20/2008 7:32:01 PM
Comment: To noname --
Americans do not have to buy anthing from China. It's your OWN choice. Korean didn't like Japanese due to the war. You can not find any Japanese products in Korea. Instead, Koreans went on to develop its own brands. Americans should do the same if you don't like China.
But the truth is that when it comes to production, Asians make it cheaper and Europeans make it better. Sadly, there is no more comparative advantage for 'made in America', if there is still any left. Take a hard look at yourself, your own country, your own history before you trash other people.
Natural disaster is nature against ALL human beings. I guess you are not one of them.
Posted By: thegoldenstars @ 05/19/2008 11:16:32 AM
Comment: No name no heart guy, who care about your sympathy? You have no heart, you aren't a human, we don't need the sympathy from an evil man. Thanks the Chinese government and all the soldiers who have been saving thousands of lives, I salute you our great heroes, Thank all the Chinese leaders, you've showed the world you are the best leaders, no other leaders can compare to you in this world, with your help, we'll stand up and we will be strong again.
Posted By: PNgan @ 05/19/2008 2:55:00 AM
Comment: To noname@nomail.com @ 05/19/2008 1:30:26 AM
Please look at your own back door. Iraqi population used to be 27M now 24M. Probably half the people in these countries are displaced.
Have you heard of Diego Garcia? A whole tribe was removed from these islands - for what !!! to build a military base for US. It was here that Afganistan and Iraq was bombed. Where are these people now. Living in the slums of Mauritius and Seychelles.
As for these inferior goods from China. Please ask the likes of Mattel, Waltons etc to please check on the quality control because they have the means to. No they are just too greedy for more profit. Their mark-ups judging from their profits are probably 8 times.
And from the Silk Road days. Maybe we should state the following facts.
For 2 Centuries Britain occupied China and while China was starving doped with opium. At least 600 million addicts
By 1911 China was occupied by 8 nation Alliance. Britain, USA, France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands Russia, Austria, Italy, Hungary, Japan.
When the Chinese fought back with their martial arts and sword and could not match the guns and cannons of these countries they lost. For losing they had to pay back in 1901 over 39 years 333 million USD dollrs.
Get real noname. Who are the aggressors?