Chinese rescuers in Haiti have provided medical treatment to more than 2,500 victims since last week's devastating earthquake in Haiti. The focus of China's rescue efforts will switch to epidemic prevention.
Zhang Ru has the details.
The quake-devastated Haitian capital Port-au-Prince has returned to calm after a strong aftershock on Wednesday morning.
The 6.1-magnitude tremor was the strongest aftershock following the last week's 7.3-magnitude quake.(www.hxen.com)
In spite of this, the aftershock did not cause any major destruction or slow the ongoing aid work.
CRI's correspondent in Haiti, Guo Yuxiang, has interviewed Huang Jianfa, head of China's rescue team.
"Mr. Huang says the rescue efforts in Haiti have been undergoing the most intensified international cooperation than before. This mission is also very special because the local government's coordination ability is limited. So cooperation and communication between rescue teams from different countries are important."
Guo quoted the head of China's rescue team by saying that so far Chinese rescuers have treated more than 2,500 victims, distributed medicine to more than 1600 people.
China's rescue efforts will switch to epidemic prevention as plagues are most likely to break out after deadly natural disasters.
Guo says the rescuers themselves face increasing pressure.
"In fact, having been working in the debris for so many days, the rescuers need medical checkups and pressure relief methods for themselves. China's medical group has conducted comprehensive medical and psychological checkups for China's riot control team as well as the search-and-rescue team."
He says the rescuers will later step out of their camp to spread information about disease prevention among the survivors.
The Haitian government estimates the earthquake has killed 75,000 people and injured 250,000. But the numbers could rise as rescue work continues.
