Society

Covering the changing times of China

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-30 07:18

Rain fails to ease water problems

Editor's note: In March, Southwest China was hit by a drought that affected at least 23 million.

Children line up to use a water source in Zhang Jijun's school in the drought-hit Mouding county, Yunnan province. Provided to China Daily

Nine months after drinking water supplies dried up in the worst drought to hit China in five decades, children in remote areas are still struggling to get enough clean water.

Zhang Jijun, a teacher in a mountain town in Yunnan province's Mouding county, said the only supply for the 76 students at his primary school is a dirty nearby reservoir, where villagers wash their clothes and cattle.

The school has only six teachers and not enough fuel to boil large quantities of water. Bouts of diarrhea are common, he said.

"The reservoir water leaves a deposit in the cup. We can't do anything about it except warn students not to drink it," said the 29-year-old teacher. "Sometimes we disinfect the water with bleaching powder, but only once a week at most.

"Five or six students have to wash their face in one basin every morning, but at least they have water to wash their face," he added. "Last spring we didn't even have enough to drink."

Yunnan gets an average of 1,200 millimeters of rain every year. However, 80 percent of that comes during the wet season, May to October, leaving residents vulnerable to shortages during summer dry spells.

Of the province's 889 rivers and 30 lakes, 70 percent are in remote and impoverished areas, with more than 80 percent of its towns and cities located in geographical basins. Although large-scale water conservation facilities have been built near urban areas, smaller projects in rural areas like water cellars and reservoirs have been allowed to fall into ruin.

Mouding government repaired the village's reservoir this summer to hold more rainwater, as well as built his school a cellar to store water pumped from the reservoir, said Zhang.

Authorities also provide the school with 900 kilograms of rice to help families whose crops failed this year due to the drought.

"It began to rain in May, so the drought is eased. The biggest problem now is we don't have clean water," said the teacher.

Peng Yining

To read the original story, visit: www.ming7.cn/cndy/2010-01/20/content_9345823.htm

Stabbed worker still struggling to recover

Editor's note: In January, migrant worker Gao Zhiqiang, 28, was stabbed after arguing with his boss about 70 yuan in unpaid wages. To save his life, doctors had to remove one of his kidneys.

Gao Zhiqiang has slowly recovered since he was discharged from a Beijing hospital - his financial situation has not.

Gao Zhiqiang was stabbed after arguing with his boss over unpaid wages. He has already lost a kidney and is now waiting for a second operation. Zhang Tao / China Daily

Despite money from well-wishers and authorities in his hometown of Hengshui in Hebei province, his family are still struggling to pay back the 40,000-yuan ($6,000) they borrowed to pay his medical bills.

China Daily reader Brian Flannigan donated 10,000 yuan after seeing the report about Gao's attack, while Hengshui gave 6,000 yuan. However, the total sum is not enough to clear the family's debts.

Twelve months into his recovery, Gao still rarely goes outside.

Flannigan, 62, who is British and works at Huntsman Textiles in Guangdong province, contacted China Daily shortly after its reporters wrote about Gao's attack and the need to protect migrant workers' rights.

"My actions are 100 percent humanitarian," he said. "The story touched my heart and I felt I had to do something. I just wanted to help."

Gao said he was surprised and delighted by Flannigan's kind donation, and gave his "most sincere thanks". The two men are yet to meet in person.

Pan Junwei, the man convicted of stabbing Gao, was ordered to pay 100,000 yuan in compensation to his victim by the Intermediate People's Court of Beijing's Shijingshan district. He refused, however, telling judges he would rather go to prison.

Gao must wait another four months for judicial aid if Pan does not pay up.

The migrant worker's 63-year-old mother, meanwhile, has been forced out of retirement to help increase the family's income. This year, she farmed 2 mu (0.13 hectares) of cotton to sell for 1,000 yuan, as well as collected trash to exchange for money.

Gao's youngest daughter, who is 5, also had to drop out of kindergarten, as the family could not afford the annual 240-yuan fee.

Things have become so bad that Gao's wife, Wang Hongran, moved back to her father's house on Dec 22 and is refusing to return home.

"I should have started work to make money but I need a second operation, which will cost another 10,000 yuan," said Gao. "I don't know how to get the money."

Hu Yongqi

To read the original story, visit: www.ming7.cn/cndy/2010-01/20/content_9345823.htm