The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Thursday launched an emergency appeal for 20 million Swiss francs (about US$19.3 million) to support earthquake survivors in southwest China.

The focus of the appeal is to support the efforts of the Red Cross Society of China, which has dispatched two emergency relief teams to two of the worst affected areas in Sichuan, the Geneva-based organization said in a statement.

The emergency fund will be used to help purchase 3,000 tents, 100,000 quilts, 100,000 food parcels and 2,000 boxes of water purification tablets among other things.

The funds will also support the deployment of additional Red Cross medical and first aid teams, with the goal being to have 10 such teams operational in the affected region.

The appeal will also support longer term recovery efforts, explained Dr Thomas Gurtner, director of programs and coordination for the Federation.

"Immediate relief is vital," he said. "But at the same time we need to begin looking beyond this critical phase and toward helping people get back on their feet."

The Federation plans to support the reconstruction of at least 1,000 homes in the affected region.

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake, which was the worst to hit China in 30 years, rocked Wenchuan County in Sichuan Province on May 12 and could have killed as many as 50,000 people, according to the rescue headquarters.

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2008)