U.S. offers quake aid to China

A top U.S. aid official said Beijing had not yet requested assistance.

The United States has search-and-rescue teams on standby in Virginia and California, said Ky Luu, the director of foreign disaster assistance for the U.S. Agency for International Development. Washington is also prepared to send a disaster assistance response team if asked, he said.

But the quickest way to help would be funding, he said.

The massive 7.9-magnitude earthquake killed nearly 10,000 people in China and left hundreds trapped under rubble, state run media reported. About 900 students were reported buried under a collapsed school.

China\\\\\\\'s Seismological Bureau said the quake affected more than half the country\\\\\\\'s provinces and municipalities.

Luu said Beijing has good disaster-response mechanisms of its own.

\\\"The Chinese have a strong capability of responding,\\\" he said, adding that the United States doesn\\\\\\\'t want to displace the internal expertise. \\\"There is a 72-hour window of opportunity and it may be best to support regional teams on the ground.\\\"

China\\\\\\\'s government is releasing $2.89 million to respond to the disaster, China\\\\\\\'s official Xinhua news agency reported.

President Bush said: \\\"I am particularly saddened by the number of students and children affected by this tragedy.\\\"

China\\\\\\\'s President Hu Jintao ordered an all-out effort to help those affected, and Premier Wen Jiabao traveled to the region to direct the rescue work, Xinhua reported.

\\\"My fellow Chinese, facing such a severe disaster, we need calm, confidence, courage and efficient organization,\\\" Wen was quoted as saying. \\\"I believe we can certainly overcome the disaster with the public and the military working together under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the government.\\\"

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: \\\"I want to express my sadness and sympathy for the victims of today\\\\\\\'s earthquake in southwest China... My thoughts are very much with them and their families.\\\"

Some 20,000 Chinese troops have been deployed to the region, while another 24,000 are scheduled to be airlifted to affected areas, Xinhua reported. Another 3,000 police officers have been activated.

China\\\\\\\'s Red Cross has dispatched 557 tents, 2,500 quilts and other aid to the disaster zone, Chinese television reported.

美国给中国提供地震援助

华盛顿（CNN）--布什总统周一说，美国已经准备“以任何可能的方式来帮助”遭受地震袭击并引起上千死亡的中国。

一个美国高级救援官员说北京还没有请求任何援助。

美国国际开发总署外国灾难救援主任Luu说，美国搜索救援组已经在维吉尼亚州和加利福尼亚州待命，如果需要的话，华盛顿已经准备好提供灾难救援反映的团队。

但是最快速的提供帮助的途径就是拨款，他说。

据官方媒体报道，强达7.9级的地震已经造成中国差不多一万人的死亡，还有上百的人被困在碎石下边。据报道差不多有900学生被埋在一个倒塌的学校下边。

中国地震局说该地震波及了中国超过半数的省及直辖市。

Luu说北京有自己的很好的灾难反应机制。

“中国有很强的反应能力”，他说，再加上美国并不想取代中国国内专家意见。有七十二小时的机会，最好是赞成地面上的地方性救援团队。

中国政府付出了289万美元来应对灾难，中国官方的新华社报道。

布什总统说：“对于受这次灾难侵袭的这么多学生和孩子，我感到非常悲痛。”

中国国家主席胡锦涛下令对受灾的人民全力进行帮助，总理温家宝到达受灾区来指导救援工作，新华社报道。

“我的同胞们，在面对这样惨烈的灾难时，我们需要冷静，信心，勇气和有效的组织，”引自温的原话。“在以中国共产党为中心和政府的领导下，我们相信通过公众以及军队的协作，我相信我们一定可以战胜这场灾难。”

联合国秘书长Ban Ki-moon说：“我想表达我对于今天在中国西南地震遇害者的悲伤和同情，我非常牵挂他们以及他们的家人。”

约两万中国军队已经部署在该地区，同时计划安排另外两万四千名军队空运至该地区，新华社报道。另外三千名警察也处于待命状态。

中国红十字会已经分派了557顶帐篷，2500套棉被和另外的救援物资至受灾区，中国电视报道。