The official death toll of the massive earthquake which shattered Sichuan Province last Monday has risen to 40,075; and is estimated to surpass 50,000, according to the disaster relief headquarters under the State Council. Facing the merciless, unpredictable death toll updates, and shocked by the ordeal the quake survivors have gone through, Chinese people across the nation and overseas have wasted no time in offering a helping hand to their disaster-stricken compatriots and demonstrating how "blood runs thicker than water."
The desolation left by the quake and aftershocks—destroyed cities and towns, flattened or cut off villages, the grieving homeless and the groaning injured – as well as the pandemonium shown by media coverage, has not only stretched people's nerves to breaking point in the Chinese mainland; but also stabbed pain into the hearts of every Chinese in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao.
The Taiwan Red Cross initially issued appeals for disaster relief and donations across the island to aid affected areas on May 13. The reaction was tremendous: personal donations and inquiries about aid and donations have since been flooding in. Primary school students donated their pocket money. A number of entrepreneurs in Taiwan and the Taiwanese engaged in business in the mainland all reached into their own pockets. In Taipei, citizens lined up to make donations.
"The earthquake is merciless, but Hong Kong cares for you." This eye-catching banner can be seen in many public places in Hong Kong, as a variety of disaster relief and funding raising activities have been put into full swing. Wen Hui Daily commented in its editorials that Hong Kong has made history in its relief efforts this time in terms of response, scale and mass involvement.
Macao also acted promptly to render assistance to quake-hit areas. The Liaison Office has successively received donations from the general public. A lot more people have made donations and offered humanitarian help through the Macao Red Cross. Many community leaders expressed that following the preliminary relief donations, they will continue the disaster fundraising campaign; and assist the reconstruction of quake-ravaged areas.
Yang Yi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, was quoted as saying that it is not only a matter of donating money or materials. More often than not, behind this humanitarian assistance is the fine tradition and great virtue shared by all the Chinese: when trouble occurs at one spot, help comes from all quarters.
Taiwan Buddhist Master Xingyun used to enlighten people by saying that you should feel the same at the sight of others starving or drowning. He elaborated on the ties of both sides across the Taiwan Straits saying that he frequently travels to and from the mainland and Taiwan. Each time he departs from either side, he always uses "return," because it is the same to him: Taiwan and the mainland are of the same family.
Newly-elected Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou said that, when making personal donations hours after the quake hit Sichuan Province, any donation, disaster relief and aid are not only out of humanitarian considerations, but also out of concern from fellow Chinese. In the face of disaster, care can be interpreted as the great love which goes through the tunnels of time and space; and beyond any obstruction.
"We will never depart from one another, rain or shine; never will I leave you, life or death; never will I abandon you,' as it is proclaimed in a popular song born from the deadly quake.
By People's Daily Online
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