Train volunteers to help in relief work

No one would deny that the work of volunteers, especially those engaged in rescue and relief missions at disaster sites, is important and deserves our utmost respect. From the Wenchuan and Ya'an earthquakes in Sichuan province in 2008 and 2013 to the Ludian quake in Yunnan province a few days ago, hundreds of thousands of volunteers have helped in rescue, relief and reconstruction work, making a world of difference to the lives of survivors and victims' relatives. They have helped dig people out of debris, reach relief materials to survivors, offer treatment to the injured, and provide counseling to people who lost their loved ones or were left disabled. They also have contributed in various ways to post-quake reconstruction.

Their courage and altruism testify to the willingness and capability of the Chinese people to build a modern civil society.

But volunteers, on the whole, are a young group in China. The number of volunteers, especially those engaged in disaster relief, had been small before the 2008 Wenchuan quake. Since many of the volunteers have still not received formal training, they lack the proper knowledge and skills to help in rescue work.

After the Wenchuan quake, volunteers have played an indispensable role in helping people in need. But unfortunately, many unprepared and untrained volunteers rushing into quake-hit areas have created more trouble than providing help. For example, when unorganized volunteers drive in droves to quake-hit areas, they often cause traffic jams and clog normal transport routes which are of utmost importance to reach food, rescue equipment and relief materials to the disaster-hit areas.

Even if they make it to the disaster-hit villages and towns, some untrained volunteers, despite their good intentions, have failed to be of much help because they either don't know what to do or don't have the proper tools and equipment to help.

Moreover, such volunteers have to rely on the local people or rescue teams for food and medical treatment - often in tight supply in disaster-hit areas - if they cannot manage their own rations, which is often the case, or get injured while trying to help with rescue and relief efforts.

Many untrained volunteers rushed to Ya'an in 2013. And Ludian is facing the same problem. On Tuesday, local county authorities temporarily closed the access to the quake zone because the onrush of volunteers was hampering normal rescue work.