A rescuer at work in a building destroyed by the earthquake Photo: Reuters/Stringer/China, courtesy alertnet.org

19 April 2010: Two truck-loads of emergency relief supplies have been dispatched to areas stricken by last week's earthquake in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yu Shu in China’s north-western Qinghai province.

According to official reports, the 7.1 magnitude earthquake killed 2,039 people and injured around 12,135 people. Between 200,000 and 400,000 children are thought to be affected.

Vital supplies

The supplies, including food, clothes, blankets and other daily necessities, will be followed by special ‘girls kits’ to provide for the sanitary and hygiene needs of girls and young women.

Plan's response is in direct consultation and coordination with relevant government partners and we are working closely with the Qinghai Working Committee on Children and Women, which will support the distribution of Plan relief items in disaster-stricken areas.

Targeted assistance

Mark Leighton, country director of Plan China, said: "Children are always the most vulnerable in the aftermath of major disasters such as this terrible earthquake.  By cooperating with the Qinghai Working Committee on Children and Women we are able to direct our assistance in a targeted way at especially vulnerable children, young people and women during these critical first few days after the earthquake on 14 April.”

Find out more about Plan's work in China.

Learn more about Plan's global emergencies work.