World Vision has rushed 2,000 quilts to Chinese children and their families struggling to survive the worst blizzard to hit Xinjiang province in six decades.
 
Snow fell in depths greater than the height of many children. “The snow is so thick that it reaches the level of an adult’s knees, waist or even taller than an adult in some areas,” reports Louise Chau of World Vision.

This made distribution extremely difficult. “It takes us 20 minutes to complete a journey of only few metres, so you can imagine how difficult it is for us to reach the villagers,” says Chau.  Vehicles became lodged in the heavy snow as World Vision struggled through with the quilts.

The disaster has claimed at least 20 lives, and left 1,304 people injured. More than 1.5 million people were affected, of whom more than 160,000 have been evacuated, according to the regional Department of Civil Affairs.  In addition, over 30,000 houses were ruined and collapsed.