In response to rainstorms and floods that have ravaged nine provinces across southern China, the international medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) began providing relief items to the affected population in collaboration with the Chinese authorities.

Since the start of the flood season earlier this month, 63 people have been reported dead and more than 1.66 million people have been evacuated from their homes.

An assessment conducted by an MSF team on June 16 and 17 in Luzhai County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, identified Zhongdu Township as the hardest hit area in the county with an affected population of over 45,000 people. A total of ten 10-ton trucks carrying relief items including buckets, laundry soap, bath soap, mosquito nets, as well as rice and cooking oil arrived in Zhongdu over the weekend for immediate distribution. The distribution will be carried out in close collaboration with the Luzhai Red Cross and local authorities. In addition, MSF will donate sterilisers to Zhongdu Township Hospital and Luorong Township Hospital.

"We have been able to respond quickly and efficiently to meet the needs of people thanks to collaborative efforts between the authorities and MSF," says Olivier Quesnel, Logistics Supervisor in charge of MSF activities in Zhongdu. "As an emergency medical and humanitarian aid organisation, we are not only involved in treating patients in our HIV/AIDS programme in Nanning, but also in providing emergency assistance to those in need of help under such circumstances".