The death toll from the Sichuan Earthquake on May 12 has well exceeded 50,000 people, the population of many towns in Canada. To give you a sense of the enormity of this tragedy, it would be the equivalent of losing the entire population of North Vancouver and part of West Vancouver all at once, or almost half of Prince Edward Island.
BBC World News: China earthquake toll jumps again
Officials say more tents are needed to help the millions of homeless. The death toll from the massive earthquake in south-west China rose again, as an official said more than five million buildings had collapsed. The vice-governor of Sichuan province said 55,239 people were now known to have died in the 12 May quake.
Millions of people are homeless, and the American Red Cross states that this earthquake is the worst natural disaster in China in 30 years.
If you live in Canada, you can make an online donation for Sichuan Earthquake Relief through the Canadian Red Cross. You can pay with both credit card and Interac (with major banks).
https://www.paypaq.com/redcross/new/index.php
You can also make a donation over the phone: 1-800-418-1111
If you live in the U.S., you can find information at the American Red Cross website, including a direct link to donate online.
If you live elsewhere in the world and would like to make a donation to support relief efforts in China, you can donate directly to the Red Cross Society of China (English version).
I donated through the Canadian Red Cross, but there are also many other charitable groups working hard in China to bring aid to the people affected by this disaster. I encourage you to help in any way you can, if not through the Red Cross, through any effective emergency response organisation.
