Philanthropists sending supplies over the world

When the novel coronavirus pneumonia recently escalated into a pandemic, businesses and individuals in North China’s Shanxi province once again offered to help.

On March 30, a batch of medical supplies from Shanxi set off overseas. The supplies — including 30,000 N95 face masks and 13,200 packs of traditional Chinese medicines — were sent to Chinese students and expatriates in more than 30 countries such as Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Brazil, Japan, Singapore and Thailand.

The delivery was organized by the Shanxi Red Cross Society and the Shanxi Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, after they received donations from local companies and residents.

Zhang Yiqin, a Shanxi native who lives in Houston, the US, was ready to receive the supplies and distribute them to local Chinese expats.

“We are excited to know that we are cared about by our folks in Shanxi,” Zhang said on his WeChat account, adding that he is proud of being Chinese.

Previously, an organization in Shanxi delivered 600 packs of TCM granules to overseas Chinese for protection against the novel coronavirus.

“When our expatriates are in difficulty, it is our duty to help them,” said an official of the Shanxi Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.

The supplies overseas are not limited to Chinese expats. Through overseas branches of the Shanxi Construction Investment Group, the Shanxi Red Cross Society has delivered 3,500 sets of protective clothing to Japan, South Korea, Italy and Germany.

In addition, the society donated 6.32 million yuan ($893,600) to a Chinese medical rescue team in Italy so it could buy intensive care unit equipment for treating local patients.

“There is no boundary for disease control, as all the countries in the world are a community with a shared future,” said an official with the Shanxi Red Cross Society.

In recent days, staff members of the provincial Red Cross society and the federation of returned overseas Chinese are receiving more donations from local businesses and residents.

However, the transnational logistics and transportation are a problem due to the pandemic, according to local officials.

“As far as we know, some of the supplies are still in China. We are trying our best to ensure the things can reach recipients as quickly as possible,” said a local Red Cross official.