ASIA/CHINA - Following devastating tornadoes and floods, Catholic Community provides timely and generous relief to hardest-hit areas

Monday, 20 July 2026 local churches natural catastrophe charity

CHINA

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Shijiazhuang (Fides News Agency) – In the wake of the devastating tornadoes and floods that struck southeastern Chinese provinces in July, particularly Guangxi and Hubei, China's Catholic community has responded promptly with humanitarian assistance through Jinde Charities, the Catholic charitable foundation entrusted with representing the local Church's relief efforts on behalf of Bishops Joseph Shen Bin of Shanghai and Joseph Li Shan of Beijing.

On July 15, Jinde Charities, with the support of local volunteers, distributed emergency humanitarian aid worth 115,320 yuan (approximately €15,000) to 318 families in villages in Ezhou, Hubei Province, that had been severely affected by the disaster.
The following day, in cooperation with the China Siyuan Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, Jinde donated 700 packages of oil and 700 sacks of rice, with a total value of 105,000 yuan (approximately €13,500), to the Shilong community in Donglong Township, Qintang District (Guigang, the capital of Guizhou Province), to help meet their basic needs.
Furthermore, thanks to direct contacts with the affected areas and on-site assessments carried out by its volunteers, the assistance provided by the Catholic charity has been especially appreciated by the disaster-stricken population. Supplies delivered by Jinde included three chainsaws, 50 shovels, 10 wheelbarrows, 50 raincoats, 350 pairs of rain boots, 2,000 cases of bottled mineral water, 1,000 metres of waterproof tarpaulins, 100 bamboo brooms, 300 umbrellas, 300 flashlights, 4,000 bottles of insect repellent and 318 blankets.

From the first hours after the disaster struck on July 6, Chinese bishops expressed deep concern for the affected regions and entrusted Jinde Charities with coordinating relief efforts in cooperation with local authorities and Catholic communities.

Jinde immediately contacted Father Huang Jiande, parish priest of Guigang, one of the areas hardest hit by the disaster. According to his account, many Catholic families in the surrounding villages were left without running water and electricity.
(NZ) (Fides News Agency, 20/7/2026)