Overseas Chinese Extend Helping Hands after Christchurch Earthquake

It has been almost a week since the devastating earthquake hit Christchurch in New Zealand as many buildings and residential areas have been damaged or grounded, but overseas Chinese people living in this city never give up hopes by giving out unreturned support to their compatriots and locals. CRI's South Pacific correspondent Chen Xi files the report.

The greatest love in the world is probably helping those in need unconditionally, and this is exactly what the overseas Chinese living in Christchurch doing since the earthquake occurred.

Sun Wenpu, born in Beijing, had his own business in the city for years. After acknowledging many people, no matter Chinese or natives, have no place to live since the disaster happened, he says he is willing to have his own home to accommodate these people free of charge.

"I can provide accommodation for those affected people, it's no problem, because I have four bedrooms, they can have two of them as there are two beds in each room and people can also sleep on the floor."

Sun Wenpu runs a convenient store very close to the Christchurch Cathedral, which was severely damaged in the earthquake in central city. He has never had a chance to look after his own property, but offering all he has after catching a piece of news on a website called Skykiwi, which calls for those less affected Chinese people in the city to extend their helping hands.

Wang Guanlun is the owner of this website, he says many Chinese living in Christchurch for years are willing to help those homeless by providing their own information on Skykiwi, such as their family address and telephone number.

"The Social Development Department of New Zealand government opens a hotline with Chinese language service on my website.

With this convenience at hand, many Chinese people here put their information on the webpage, which is also translated into English. In this way, not only Chinese, but local people have their temporary homes now as well."

Besides providing shelters, many young Chinese have voluntarily helped to clean the mess of less damaged houses in the city. 27-year-old Cao Shanwei is one of them, he is from China's Taiwan.

"I just want to see if I could help others and do some useful things with my own strength. I like body-building and this is a good chance too. Although sweating a lot, I feel not bad."

Craig Trembath is a local resident. He says he sincerely appreciates the unselfish devotion by the volunteers.

"Our neighbors are of mixed of Chinese and Thai, everybody is chipping in to help clean up the mess."

Although still experiencing a few aftershocks these days in Christchurch, but according to Bob Parker, the city Mayor, the darkest day may have gone and those alive should cherish hopes for a brighter future.

"It's a day everybody is reaching out. And we are asking everybody in Christchurch today to reach out some one in some way, expecting nothing in return. It could be something as simple as a smile, or a handshake or a hug or a kind word. The sun is shining, we need to keep our spirits up and I need you to have a role to play in that."

For CRI, I'm Chen Xi, Christchurch, New Zealand.