West China 2nd University Hospital under Sichuan University showed us how they receive donations from the general public. Even a gift of candy will be recorded and the donor will receive a tracking receipt. On the Red Cross Society of China's (RCSC) website, people can also access detailed information about donations and where they have been sent.

Wu Peng, an official of the Chinese Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA), told China.org.cn that as of May 20 they had sent relief materials and funds worth almost 27 million yuan to quake-hit areas. In Qingchuan and Mianyang, supplies are going directly to local people, but in the most severely damaged areas they have left distribution arrangements to local government groups in order not to interfere with military rescue efforts.

He added that they plan to conduct immediate research on the needs of other locations that have suffered badly but are out of the media spotlight, then decide how best to arrange the quickest provision of relief supplies to the victims.

The day when we visit Hanwang Town, these two dogs are the only lives saved beneath Dongqi Community's debris.

(China.org.cn May 23, 2008)