After the Typhoon Utor brought devastating flooding to southern China’s Guangdong Province last week, residents immediately complained that the state did not send them any assistance. Now, pictures have come from one of the afflicted areas of rescue squads at their ease, as netizens say the squads waited for residents to pay them for their help.
A netizen with the Internet name “my posting brings about a new future” wrote in a post accompanied by photos of his experience in one of the hardest hit areas, Chendian Town in Shantou City: “I brought food to Chendian Road to help those victims who were just rescued, and I saw two lifeboats and about 10 rescue members in leather shoes dispatched from the government chatting beside the boat,” the netizen reported.
“I asked them why they did not go into the flooded area to rescue people. They told me they didn’t receive any instructions from above. I then said I would buy some stuff for those victims who cannot get out, please help me deliver it to them. They said no, go talk to our supervisors. I asked them to lend their boats to those who are willing to do something, again they said no. I then asked them, ‘what are you here for?’ Their reply was ‘we are here to watch these two boats.’ I was outraged and threw out dirty words. With this type of ‘rescue,’ when can those surrounded by floods ever be free from danger?”
Another blogger wrote: “It has been circulated on the internet that the military police asked for 200 yuan [US$32] for saving one victim and sell a pack of noodles for 50 yuan [US$8]. I testify these reports are all true. They ask for money before they are willing to take any action to rescue people. I also want to tell everyone, we civilians basically help one another. The police dispatched from the government come as if they are watching a show here.”
A Netizen named Deng Jiabao wrote: “In the Chendian area, the lifeboats were not used to save anyone. They were used to make money. With money paid, they will go into the house to provide rescue. With no money, they would rather leave the boats idle there than lend them to anyone. I saw babies several months old in wooden barrels, protected by their parents. My heart was broken. People in the hard hit areas could be washed away at any time. “
Translated by Olivia Li. Written in English by Stephen Gregory.
Read the original Chinese article.
