Third Email from Half the Sky

"Dear friends,

I know you have been waiting eagerly for more news of how the children arefaring during the aftermath of the disastrous earthquake in Sichuan.

When something terrible like this happens, confusion is everywhere andrumors spread. All of us are so worried about the children. We are tryingto be scrupulously careful to pass along only information that we've beenable to verify.

We have now set up a procedure whereby we can get an update from theMinistry of Civil affairs each day. They are supervising all relief effortsso have the most complete and accurate information available. We also nowhave contact information for all affected welfare institutions and havebegun the process of reaching out to them directly to see if they need help.

I will write daily with any new information that has been given to us.Again, please do not contact us to inquire about individual institutions. Wewill give you all of the information we have. If you do not hear from usabout a particular place, it likely is not affected. At any rate, we don'thave any information beyond what I am passing along to you.

As of now, Wednesday afternoon in China, there are 12,012 people dead and7,841 missing in Sichuan alone, and the numbers continue to rise. 26,206people are living in temporary shelters. Only 30 children of 900 have beenrescued from the collapsed high school in Dujiangyan, Sichuan. At least 20children were buried in the collapse of a primary school in Liangping,Chongqing.

What follows are the welfare institutions closest to the epicenter:Mianyang, Zitong County, Dujiangyan, Deyang and Guanguan.

The following is a preliminary, and not necessarily complete, list ofinstitutions which are also potentially affected: Wenjiang County, Neijiang,Rongxian, Zigong, Ganzizhou, Panzhihua, Luzhou, Santai County, Leshan,Suining, Nanchong, Guang'an.

We will have a full list later today or early tomorrow. While we've heardrumors about some of the above, we won't pass on that information untilwe've made direct contact and verified. I want to stress that we've heardno reports of children in the welfare institutions being injured, only thatsome have been relocated for their safety.

An update on the Chengdu CWI: There has been some foundation damage to therehab building and some cracked walls in other buildings, which are beingcarefully inspected. The children's building is in the best shape and allchildren have been moved to the first floor but spend most of the day outside, weather permitting - or in the institution buses if there is rain. All institution staff and HTS staff are working around the clock to care forthe children and keep them safe.

In cooperation with China's Ministry of Civil Affairs, Half the Sky has setup the Children's Earthquake Fund. The Fund will provide direct aid to thethousands of children who are suffering in the wake of the earthquake andaftershocks. Donations will be used to provide emergency and long-termrelief to children affected by the disaster, including emergency shelter,food, and medical care for children orphaned or separated from theirfamilies, as well as temporary or long-term foster care or, if necessary,temporary institutional care. The ministry has guaranteed that the fundswill be used only to help the children.

You can donate to the fund by calling Half the Sky (+1 510 525 3377) or atone of two dedicated sites online:Global Giving:

http://www.globalgiving.com/pr/2100/proj2086a.html

orHalf the Sky website:
http://give.halfthesky.org/prostores/servlet/Categories?category=Children'

s+Earthquake+FundIf you would like a Canadian tax receipt, please donate at

http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=s86248

If you would like a Hong Kong tax receipt, please call us at +852 25205266 or online athttps://www.paydollar.com/b2c2/eng/charity/payInfo.jsp?charityId=4947

We are juggling a lot these days - doing everything we can to help out hereas well as keeping our existing programs operating, AND opening modelcenters in 5 new provinces this year to bring everyday care to so manychildren still waiting for us to reach them. But somehow we must find a wayto do it all.This is just a devastating, heartbreaking situation. We are so moved byyour desire to help. We feel fortunate to be a conduit for so much lovingconcern.

Thank you all!with love,JennyJenny BowenExecutive DirectorHalf the Sky Foundationwww.halfthesky.org <http://www.halfthesky.org/>

Half the Sky was created in order to enrich the lives and enhance theprospects for orphaned children in China. We establish and operate infantnurture and preschool programs, provide personalized learning for olderchildren and establish loving permanent foster care and guidance forchildren with disabilities. It is our goal to ensure that every orphanedchild has a caring adult in her life and a chance at a bright future.Since 1998. Ten years.thousands of hugs.."