Ｏｕｔｓｉｄｅ　Ｈｅｌｐ　Ｆｌｏｏｄｓ　Ｉｎ.docVIP

Ｏｕｔｓｉｄｅ　Ｈｅｌｐ　Ｆｌｏｏｄｓ　Ｉｎ 　　 　　ON May 14 Premier Wen Jiabao was surprised to come across a group of foreigners in hard-hit Beichuan County of Mianyang City. “Are you tourists?” asked the premier. “No. We’re rescuers,” answered a tall man in Chinese. “Where are you from?” “The United States, Heart to Heart International.” Their brief dialogue was shown on CCTV that night. 　　The foreigner who spoke to the premier was Brian Robinson, chief representative in China of Alabama-based Heart to Heart International. Brian is a Doctor of Medicine and has lived in Chengdu for 10 years. He and 15 other foreign rescuers were on their way toBeichuan when they came across Premier Wen Jiabao. They had three vehicles, including an ambulance and a truck full of medical and other relief materiel. 　　When the quake struck on the afternoon of May 12, Brian evacuated onto the street with local citizens. He quickly contacted the Sichuan Provincial Red Cross, and Heart to Heart International became the first international rescue team to arrive at the disaster site. It was soon followed by a lavish flow of international humanitarian aid and rescue efforts from around the world. 　　 　　Sharing the Pain 　　 　　 　　International sympathy and aid poured into Sichuan following the disastrous quake. U.S. President George W. Bush said in a statement on May 12: “The thoughts and prayers of the American people are with the Chinese people, especially those directly affected.” Many foreign ambassadors and envoys to China came to the Chinese Foreign Ministry to extend their condolences to the quake victims, leaving messages of commiseration and support. 　　Soon after the earthquake, Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz pledged donations of US $50 million in cash and US $10 million in relief materiel. It is the single largest foreign aid donation China has received since the earthquake. On May 16, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced the UN would use the Central Emergency Respons