Safe Water and Hope for China Earthquake Survivors

by Staff
May 30, 2008

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CHARLESTON, Sc., (christiansunite.com) -- Water Missions International (WMI) International Project Director, Andre Merganthaler, landed today in Chengdu, China to lead a water resource team of engineers and technicians responsible for installation and operation of 12 water purification systems. Six water purification systems, requested by Samaritan's Purse (SP), were included in SP's chartered Boeing 747 carrying $1 million in relief supplies, airlifted from Charlotte, NC to Chengdu, China today (May 23). Six more systems, will be sent from the WMI Headquarters in Charleston, SC to Chengdu, China early next week. This airlift is made possible by FedEX. Each water system is assembled by volunteer labor, provides a continuous supply of approximately 10,000 gallons per day, and can be rapidly deployed and installed in only a few hours. The systems purify available surface and contaminated well water sources in disaster areas.

A deadly, 7.8-magnitude earthquake shook China's Sichuan province on Monday, May 12, affecting millions of people. To date, the quake and its aftershocks have claimed more than 55,000 lives and left more than a quarter of a million people injured. The latest reports estimate that another 25,000 people are still missing and could be buried beneath the rubble. One week after the disaster, 4.8 million people are homeless and in desperate need of food, shelter, and clean, safe water.
At the Samaritan's Purse Press Conference this morning, Zhang Ping, of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China thanked Jerry Miner, WMI VP Disaster Response, for the water treatment systems that will provide much needed assistance.

About WMI:
Water Missions International (WMI) is a nonprofit, Christian engineering organization based in Charleston, SC. WMI's mission is to provide sustainable access to safe water and an opportunity to hear the "Living Water" message in developing countries and disaster areas. Assistance is provided regardless of age, sex, race, or faith. To date, WMI has deployed a total of 574 water systems in 35 countries worldwide and two U.S. states, making safe water available to more than one million people. Visit us at www.watermissions.org.

More details on this disaster relief effort will follow as information becomes available.

If you would like more information about Water Missions International, or to donate funds to disaster relief projects, please contact Danya Jordan at (843) 769-7395 x 210 or djordan@watermissions.org. Donations are also accepted online at www.watermissions.org. For volunteer opportunities, contact Kelly Lewis at (843)769-7395 x 207 or volunteers@watermissions.org.