Author: Anonymous
In the face of the sudden 5.12 Wenchuan earthquake, not only was all of China mobilized, but other countries around the world also provided unprecedented moral support and material donations. As the saying goes, true feelings are revealed in times of hardship. We are grateful to all countries that have provided moral and financial support, and we will remember their kindness. At the same time, there are 9 countries that we should especially keep in mind.
Of course, we must also remember many other countries such as Japan, Russia, the United States, Singapore, etc., but let's not forget these 9 countries:
**Saudi Arabia**: First in International Donations
Immediately after the earthquake, Saudi Arabia announced a donation of $50 million in cash and $10 million in supplies, totaling $60 million to China, setting a record for international donations to the earthquake disaster in China. As more details about the disaster were disclosed and rescue efforts continued, many countries increased their donations, but as of the time this article was written (May 31st at 8 PM), no country had surpassed Saudi Arabia’s donation amount. Indeed, Saudi Arabia is an oil-rich country, and indeed, love cannot be measured by the amount donated. However, the first record of $60 million is still worth remembering.
**Pakistan**: 100% of Strategic Reserve Tents Sent to Disaster Areas
By May 25th, Pakistan had donated a total of 22,260 tents to the disaster areas in China. Regardless of how much these over 20,000 tents are worth, Pakistan learned that tents were the most urgently needed supplies in the disaster areas and decided to donate all of its strategic reserve tents to China! This act of righteousness truly reaches the heavens!
**North Korea**: Sounding the Horn in Mourning with China
The capital of North Korea, Pyongyang, sounded air-raid sirens at 14:28 on May 19th Beijing Time, synchronizing with China in mourning. Cars stopped running and sounded their horns. Moreover, despite being economically underprivileged and suffering from natural disasters themselves, North Korea donated $100,000 to China.
**Mozambique**: Precious RMB 40,000
Mozambique, a small country located far away in Africa, is one of the poorest countries in the world, with an annual per capita GNP of less than $80 USD. The average person earns less than 1/3 of the cost of a can of cola daily. It is said that sometimes the leaders of this country struggle to afford travel expenses when attending UN meetings. Yet, this black brother who is practically penniless donated RMB 40,000, whose value is immeasurable! For many individuals among us, RMB 40,000 is not a large sum, and certainly, China does not lack this amount of money. However, this RMB 40,000 comes from an almost destitute small country, making its significance particularly precious.
An elderly beggar in Nanjing donated all he had—RMB 105, puma shoes. Stockbrokers who forcibly seized RMB 2 billion in floating wealth from small and medium-sized stock investors donated RMB 100 million. In terms of absolute numbers, RMB 100 million is many times more than RMB 105, but behind the beggar's RMB 105 is a heart of gold. The nobility of the beggar far surpasses those brokers whose hearts are filled with dirty greed. The RMB 40,000 donated by Mozambique is just as precious as the RMB 105 donated by the beggar, and it deserves our utmost respect.
There are five small countries, some nearby, most distant, without the financial capability like Saudi Arabia to make donations, but they expressed their shared sorrow with the Chinese people in a special way. This special way is by establishing a "National Day of Mourning" for the Chinese earthquake and flying flags at half-mast in all government offices!
Five countries established a "National Day of Mourning" for the Chinese earthquake and flew flags at half-mast in all government offices:
- Peru (National Day of Mourning on May 19th)
- Tonga (National Day of Mourning on May 21st)
- Bangladesh (National Day of Mourning on May 21st)
- Comoros (National Day of Mourning on May 22nd)
- Cape Verde (National Day of Mourning on May 23rd)
(Author: Sichuan Relief)