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CHENGDU: China said it has received US$1.3 billion (9 billion yuan) worth of donations for quake victims to date.
It has also given the assurance that all funds will be used strictly to help the victims of the earthquake.
Apart from providing food and medicine to survivors, the biggest challenge is to build shelter for the millions who have lost their homes.
As the death toll of the Wenchuan earthquake rises, many more are struggling to rebuild their lives.
More than 5 million people have lost their homes and they now live in tents provided by the authorities.
But there are a lot more people who have to get by in self-made shelters which are feeble and often heat up like a greenhouse during the day before cooling down at night.
While donations of food and water continue to pour in, local authorities are appealing for more tents for the refugees.
Li Daihai, chief of JiulongTown, said: "We need food and water, and another 3,000 tents. The weather is changing and a storm can happen any time. When the storms come, our people will have to go."
Jiulong Town lost over 360 lives and all children under the age of four have died.
The Chinese central government said it has provided 280,000 tents to house the survivors for now. It has also placed urgent orders for 700,000 more tents and have purchased 80,000 nylon sheets.
Charity organisations like Singapore's Mercy Relief are helping to meet the demand.
The group said 500 tents are expected to reach hard-hit areas like Deyang and Mianyang this week, with the help of Sichuan's charity organisation.
But there is more to be done.
As China mourns for those who have lost their lives, it is also struggling to provide short-term housing for the millions who have been left homeless.
The next step will be to build sturdier shelters for those displaced before they move into new homes.
- CNA/so
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