China: More than 2.96 million displaced by natural disasters over the first half of 2011
| Publisher | Norwegian Refugee Council/Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (NRC/IDMC) |
| Publication Date | 29 July 2011 |
| Cite as | Norwegian Refugee Council/Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (NRC/IDMC), China: More than 2.96 million displaced by natural disasters over the first half of 2011, 29 July 2011, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4e38e5dd2.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Natural disasters forced 2.96 million people to evacuate their homes and caused the collapse of 274,000 buildings in the People's Republic of China over the first six months of 2011, according to a government report published on 9 July. The disasters include frequent earthquakes in mainland China, with seven measured at a 5.0-magnitude or higher, and three tropical storms which hit the mainland in June. Hubei and Hunan provinces in Central China were badly hit, as well as Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan in the Southwest.
Since the start of June, bouts of heavy rains, floods and landslides have hit at least twelve of the central, southern and eastern provinces of China, displacing over half a million people from their homes. As of 17 June, more than 555,000 people have been evacuated from seven central and southern provinces and a municipality. In the first week of July, more than 300,000 people fled as a result of floods and landslides. Further flooding is expected as the rainy season continues until around August.
