Local authorities in Urumqi have established a psychological aid club for children to help them recover from post-riot mental stress, Xinhua News Agency reported Monday.

The "Xinjiang Children's Psychological Aid Club" opened its doors on July 18 in the heart of Urumqi in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 13 days after the July 5 Urumqi riot, which left 197 dead and more than 1,600 injured.

"Children are obviously more traumatized than the adults because of the riots. And if neglected, the psychological trauma may have an effect on the development of the children,” said Xu Chunxia, a psychologist at the club.

The club provides free psychological counseling to children and their parents. Other activities, such as singing, story telling and craft will also be organized at the club to relieve mental stress among children.

"The first phase of the club's work will last till January next year. We have got 200,000 yuan (US$29,283) from the Women's Federation of the Region to run the program," said Gao Peixiang of the Xinjiang Children Development Center, the founder of the club.

Donations for the victims of the Urumqi riot July 5 have exceeded 270 million yuan (US$39.5 million), Xinhua reported Monday.

(chinadaily.com.cn July 22, 2009)