The Association of Qingtian Natives in Greece Spared No Effort in Assisting Libya Evacuation

The evacuees are waving goodbye when leaving Crete island of Greece.

Since a big change occurred in the security situation of Libya, a North African country, Chinese government has launched an unprecedented national evacuation through its powerful air, ground and naval deployments. Meanwhile, the safety of overseas Chinese in Libya also affected the hearts of Qingtian natives in neighboring countries of Libya. In late February, overseas Chinese from the Association of Qingtian natives in Greece volunteered to assist in the evacuation and helped their compatriots evacuate to Crete Island of Greece.
When China s Libya evacuation was launched, the Office of Overseas Chinese Affairs and the Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese of both Qingtian county and Lishui city began in no time to mobilize Lishui overseas Chinese in Greece to dispatch capable forces to assist Chinese Embassy in Greece with placement and evacuation. Under the leadership of the Embassy, the Association of Qingtian Natives in Greece organized a team of volunteers with its backbone force which set out immediately for Crete Island to offer their help to Chinese evacuees from Libya.
12 members of the Association, including He Guoqing and Wu Hailong, were the first volunteers arriving at Crete Island. Together with embassy staff, they worked closely with Chinese merchants from Qingtian on the island, assisting evacuees from Libya round-the-clock with boarding and getting off ferries, hotel check-in, and departure.
Quite a few of us overseas Chinese from Qingtian run clothing stores on Crete Island, so it s convenient for us to coordinate. In no more than three to four days, we have assisted the Embassy and Greek government by reserving 6,500 beds in 10 hotels and hiring 55 buses for evacuees. said He Guoqing. Although volunteers shouted themselves hoarse and run their legs swollen due to tight schedule and heavy workload, they did not stop their operation, offering medical aid to sick compatriots and financial aid to those robbed in Libya.
With the generous help of overseas Chinese from Qingtian, many Chinese nationals evacuated to Crete Island from Libya have contacted their families, purchased articles for daily use and got ready for departure. It rained heavily on the Island of Crete, but the volunteers from the Association of Qingtian Natives in Greece continued their voluntary aid operation in the rain, which touched everyone on the scene greatly.