Recently, mainland China has been hit by severe flooding in many areas, causing significant damage to the affected residents. However, there has been a lack of response from various sectors in China towards donation efforts for flood victims. Calls for donations in places like Pingjiang, Hunan Province have been met with indifference, sparking discussions and criticisms online. Citizens have analyzed the reasons behind the apathy.
In Pingjiang, Hunan, the flooding situation is extremely severe, with the entire county resembling a water town. Many old town streets and residential areas have been almost completely submerged, leading to many people losing contact with their loved ones. Crops have suffered heavy losses, and netizens describe the situation as the most terrifying disaster in decades.
In response, the Pingjiang County Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and the Red Cross urgently appealed to all sectors of society to lend a helping hand through donations of money and goods to assist Pingjiang in overcoming this crisis. Surprisingly, the donation campaign has sparked widespread discussions and doubts online, with over a thousand comments where no one is willing to donate.
Analysis by netizens revealed the main reasons why people are unwilling to donate:
1. Many are currently facing financial difficulties with reduced incomes and being stripped of various benefits in aspects such as capital, housing, healthcare, education, and pension.
2. Lack of trust in the donation channels of the Red Cross, fearing that the money and goods may not reach the affected populations.
3. Belief that wealthy individuals, celebrities, experts, government officials, and foreign students should be at the forefront of donations.
4. The government should step in to assist the affected populations as they have the resources.
Many netizens have expressed their opinions in the comment section, with some using sharp language. Some have noted a noticeable decline in the enthusiasm for social donations this year compared to previous years, raising questions that it is an issue worthy of deep reflection. Some have questioned why the responsibility of disaster relief falls on ordinary citizens rather than the government, stating that the government should take the lead in such times of crisis.
One netizen sarcastically remarked that since they didn’t cause the flooding, why should they donate? They questioned if the court would hold them responsible if they were to donate and were accused of causing the flood.
There are also concerns expressed by some netizens regarding the lack of trust in where the donations will go, fearing that the funds may be misused or poorly managed, depriving the disaster-stricken areas of proper assistance and reconstruction.
The skepticism towards donations reflects the public’s lack of trust in the overall donation management system.
Many voices are calling for the relevant authorities to take on more responsibilities in the face of disasters, improve infrastructure construction, especially flood control and drainage systems, to reduce the occurrences and impacts of similar disasters in the future. Many believe that some regions have not even fixed their drainage systems properly, suggesting that there should be a focus on resolving livelihood issues before focusing on urban development.
A netizen from Jiangsu, “538G4,” pointed out that in the past four to five years, the Chinese government has provided foreign aid amounting to 6 trillion yuan, ranking first in the world. Given the significant amount of foreign aid, she questioned why the same love and support were not being directed towards domestic needs, highlighting the ongoing difficulties faced by many groups within the country that require assistance.
She noted that in previous years, disasters would prompt immediate and generous responses from all sectors of society; however, this time, there is an unusual calmness due to widespread confusion among the public.
According to her insights, there are groups and individuals willing to donate, but they are hesitant due to uncertainties about how to donate effectively. The loss of trust in the Red Cross, coupled with past instances of donated goods being left to expire in warehouses without distribution to the disaster victims, has left many well-meaning individuals in a state of bewilderment.
She emphasized that the reality is after donating, people are left in the dark about where their contributions ultimately end up. They have no right to inquire about it either, making the donation process inherently challenging due to its lack of transparency.
Rung Feng, a media personality from Hunan, mentioned that several southern provinces, particularly his home province of Hunan, are facing severe flooding, displacing many residents. He observed a lack of corporate donations and no response from the entertainment industry. A media comparison revealed that a charity rescue organization received 7 million donations online last year but only raised 300,000 this year.
This year, severe flooding also hit Meizhou, Guangdong, with donations amounting to only 23 million yuan as announced by the Meizhou authorities. Public welfare organizations are generally pessimistic about the public fundraising situation this year.
Rung Feng believed, “The main reasons include the ongoing challenges faced by businesses, with many teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. Additionally, there has been a cooling of people’s hearts. Recently, there have been reports that in some areas, flour donated during last year’s floods was never distributed to the victims, leading to it going moldy in village committees. This year’s reluctance to donate clearly indicates that both enterprises and ordinary people are becoming more rational and cautious.”
He remarked that with such massive flooding, if you donate 100 yuan, 99 yuan might disappear. It could potentially end up in someone else’s pocket, which raises the question of why people should continue donating under such circumstances.