Chinese experess sympathy, willingness to help to Haiti quake victims

BEIJING, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese people, yet to recover from last year's devastating quake that left some 80,000 dead or missing, expressed sympathy and willingness to help in the wake of the strong temblor in Haiti.

They posted their concerns and condolences online after the 7.0-magnitude quake struck Haiti at 5:53 a.m. Wednesday Bejing time.

Internet user "Tiaodun" said at Xinhua's online forum, "I hope China could be the first country to send a relief team."

The earthquake wreaked havoc in the western hemisphere country, killing possibly thousands of people, though no detailed casualties were yet known.

"It reminded me of China's Wenchuan earthquake on May 12, 2008," said "YaopingV" at sina.com.cn., one of China's major portals. "I really wish the locals sound and safe."

"Sister Zhu" micro-blogged at Sina, "I wanna know to whom should we donate?"

China has yet established formal diplomatic relationship with Haiti, but the "humanitarian assistance knows no boundary," as Anthea Webb, director of UN World Food Program China Office, said.

Webb has received an avalanche of telephones from individuals and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) since Wednesday, consulting the way of donation and assistance.

"It's so touching and encouraging that Chinese people offer support to the other country, definitely in memory of the Wenchuan earthquake," Webb said, estimating that about 1.8 million people in Haiti are now on the verge of hunger and in need of large-scale assistance.

"We have received inquiries about channels of assistance from several NGOs from China within two days, and they are too humble to let their names known," Webb said.

The Chinese government expressed serious concern and deep sympathy to the disaster-affected people, said Jiang Yu, spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adding that the country's Red Cross is already working on offering emergency financial assistance.

Meanwhile, a 60-strong-member national relief team rushed to the Caribbean country from Beijing Wednesday evening and has arrived in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince.

China was also worried about the safety of Chinese people living there, including Chinese peace-keeping forces deployed to Haiti, Jiang said.

Eight Chinese are still missing after the quake including four peace-keepers and four from a six-member working group of the Ministry of Public Security.

The Chinese rescue team arrived in Haiti along with 10 tons of food, equipment and medicines. China's Red Cross Society has also pledged 1 million U.S. dollars in emergency aid.