(April 17, 2010) After overcoming the inconvenient transportation and altitude sickness, One Foundation’s earthquake relief team finally arrived at Jiegu Town in Yushu early in the morning, bringing with it large supplies of relief materials. The team members immediately started work with the local government; rescue alliance team and volunteers and distributed the materials. Even as they were busily rendering a helping hand to the victims, the team members had not forgotten to begin studying post-disaster rebuilding work.

In the afternoon, One Foundation’s team found that due to the poor road conditions caused by the earthquake, many relief materials could not be delivered promptly. In fact, local residents were in desperate need for everything. They even had to sleep outdoors without any shelter, waiting as it were, in the severe cold – Yushu is situated on the Tibetan Plateau – for help. Upon hearing this, Mr. Jet li immediately contacted the local government and organized a survey around Jiegu Town to determine the place and method for distributing the first batch of relief materials.

At 2 o’clock in the morning, One Foundation’s relief convoy consisting of 7 trucks arrived, carrying mineral water; biscuits; fruit juice; emergency relief medicine and warm clothing. The convoy’s arrival also coincided with the arrival of the rescue alliance team from Sichuan. After a short rest, both teams began to re-arrange the relief materials. By dawn, the materials were distributed to Yinxiu Village and Changu Temple - the targeted locations identified on the day before – for distribution. More relief materials arrived during the day. This was followed by another round of busy packing. Subsequent relief materials were being followed up.

One Foundation’s founder Mr. Jet Li took advantage of a lull in the afternoon to visit an orphanage in Nangqian County. It was the place where Mr. Wong Fuk Wing had served. Mr. Wong was a Hong Kong volunteer who had a passion for public welfare work. He was the first volunteer to have perished in the Yushu Earthquake. After a brief memorial ceremony, Mr. Li immediately conducted discussions with the local government and the orphanage’s workers on the state of the orphanage. He also indicated that One Foundation would fully support relief and rebuilding of the orphanage. 

One Foundation has often placed great importance on the post-disaster rebuilding work. Thus it has begun carrying out long-term rebuilding plan for Yushu even as the relief workers were undertaking rescue and relief work. Yushu is located on the Tibetan Plateau. As such it will experience extreme cold in October. Ninety percent of the town's houses were destroyed during the earthquake. Thus the primary focus for rebuilding work would be to construct housing for the local victims before the onset of winter. Many roads in Yushu were destroyed during the earthquake and were crowded with the large amount of relief materials and workers pouring into the region. Given that Yushu is at a high altitude and has a complex geographical and weather system, the greatest fear for most relief workers would be the common cold and anaerobic infection. One Foundation would like to remind volunteers that, unlike Wenchuan, Yushu is in the Tibetan Plateau. Hence relief workers should exercise extreme care.