Rice Praises Christian Groups in China Quake Response

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised the self-sacrifice and relief efforts of Christian charitable organisations in China Sunday while surveying disaster struck areas throughout Sichuan province as part of a greater goodwill tour with Chinese officials.

China's southwestern Sichuan province was devastated by a 7.9-magnitude earthquake that left millions homeless and claimed over 70,000 lives when it struck on 12 May.

Rice said that Christian organisations in China - among the first to rush to the country's aid after the country faced its worst earthquake and natural disaster in three decades - were shining examples and living testimonies of the importance of faith-based charitable groups during times of global crisis.

"I am delighted and just moved to be here with Samaritan's Purse, providing clean water for the residents," said Rice, in a statement, as she surveyed a water purification system established by just one of the many Christian groups active in the area. The water filtration unit was one of 12 airlifted by Samaritan's Purse to the quake zone.

Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organisation, led by evangelist Franklin Graham, that has aided the world's poor and disaster-hit for over 35 years.

Rice said that it was commendable that through just one organisation alone, 3,000 families were provided with temporary housing and 16,000 blankets were handed out to the needy.

Referring to the support of faith-based groups, she was quoted by The Associated Press as saying, "I can see that the Chinese Government and officials have been attentive. But with a disaster of this magnitude, no one can do it alone."

Rice also commended the openness of China in accepting international aid, which has helped provide millions of disaster victims with support and hope in rebuilding their lives.

In comparison, millions in Burma remain stranded in hopelessness because of the reluctance of the country's military junta to allow Christian and other international aid groups to enter following the cyclone that ripped across the country two months ago, she said.

The Sichuan earthquake was China's deadliest since the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that levelled the city of Tangshan in 1976.