Mianzhu local authority also contains and is responsible for Hanwang Town. Hanwang suffered horribly in the earthquake. Enormous destruction was wreaked on a relatively small population, and huge numbers died. Hundreds more are still buried. It could be that the attention of the authorities is currently directed towards a more needy case.

This is not in any way to undervalue the problems suffered by the people of Mianzhu. Most of them had to leave their homes on the day of the earthquake, and have not been able to return. Their facilities are limited.

The writer who spoke to us understood clearly the strategic importance of the losses in Hanwang. Others will know by word of mouth, by radio, and a little by television how bad things are elsewhere. But it is unlikely that many will have seen Hanwang for themselves. If they did, they would probably hand over their meager shelters, and sleep in the rain.

In any case, there is perhaps an opportunity here. There is a huge need in Mianzhu, but it is essentially for simple material goods. Above all, the people face the prospect of a long stay in temporary accommodation. Much of the city will have to be rebuilt. The thing they need most, and most urgently is tents – tents, and other goods that make life a little easier in rudimentary temporary homes.

Western relief organizations are keen to help in China. To date their opportunities have been limited. The logistics of bringing aid to the hardest-hit areas are enormously complex, and an army of foreigners – however well-trained and well-intentioned – who themselves need constant help and support to carry out the simplest tasks, are more likely to block the arteries of relief than to help.

But it should be – and I do not use the word carelessly – easy to bring relief to Mianzhu. The city is a short trip on good roads from Deyang City on the motorway, and only an hour or so from Chengdu. The streets of the city are wide and solid, and the population is safe from danger.

Surely meeting the material needs of the people of Mianzhu is a task that the international agencies could manage. This would give the world an opportunity to help with the earthquake relief effort – something that so many people outside of China desperately want to do – and it would free additional Chinese resources to deal with critical problems elsewhere.

As the Beijing Olympics approach, what better way to start to bring the peoples of the world together?

(China.org.cn May 22, 2008)