"I Wish the Flood Can Recede Quickly. I Want to Go Home."

"Because of the heavy rainstorm, my house was flooded. The water level was over my head!" said by Xinyi, an 11-year-old child.

Xinyi lives with her older sister, father, mother, and grandparents in a village in Guanxia Township, Suining County, Shaoyang City, Hunan Province, China. As her grandparents are old and poor, the village committee arranged her mother to work at the "poverty alleviation workshop" with the monthly pay of RMB1,500. Her father worked as a cook, but his salary is also low. Their peaceful life was destroyed by a sudden rainstorm.

▲The staff of World Vision asked Xinyi about the flood. The left one is Xinyi's older sister.

On June 9, 2019, a rainstorm swept through her village. Vast farmland was flooded. Especially, the lily land of 11 mu (approximately 7,333 square meters) with a high yield was completely ruined. Additionally, over 30 houses were seriously damaged; and over 100 houses were soaked, leading to great losses. Xinyi's house was not spared.

"When the flood came, I was very scared. The water rose very quickly and drowned me in a moment. Our house was made of wood. It was very dangerous, so we rushed to our relative's house next door. Our relative's house is solid and high. We stayed there for four to five days. During the rainy days, our school suspended classes. I stayed at my relative's all day. I felt bad, as I could only see my house soaked in the water, but did nothing at all. I wished the flood could recede quickly. I wanted to go home."

▲Xinyi's older sister pointed out the water level when her house was flooded.

Xinyi's house was flooded twice in 2017 and once again this year. Now, the flood has receded. They returned to their home. They had to clean up mud and wash furniture. On weekends, Xinyi and her older sister helped wash dishes, stools, and clothes, and helped their grandmother to tidy up the house as soon as possible. They dried the washed stools and cabinets by the road.

However, some articles could no longer be used, after being soaked. They threw away the soaked quilts and only kept wooden bed frames. After the disaster, the local civil affairs bureau and charity federation distributed drinking water, cooking oil, instant noodles, quilts, and other supplies to the victims. Now, Xinyi's family urgently need supplies like quilts and rice.

▲Xinyi's grandmother sat on the bed frame. Xinyi's house was flooded. They threw away the soaked quilts and only kept wooden bed frames.

According to the local weather forecast, Xinyi's village will suffer from a new round of rainfall. The village has been severely damaged. The situation of Xinyi and other villagers is not optimistic.

▲Child friendly kit sent to Xinyi by World Vision.

--Written by Addie Liao