World Humanitarian Day: Blue Sky Rescue continues to save lives

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03:17

Every year on the 19th of August, World Humanitarian Day pays tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and to rally support for people affected by crises around the world. Our reporter Liu Yang visited one of the offices of China's most prominent non-profit local rescue organizations and spoke with the founder and volunteers.

In the past 11 years, Blue Sky Rescue says it has taken part in thousands of rescue efforts including international humanitarian relief operations, helping some 10 million people. The founder Zhang Yong showed us the first stretcher the organization bought 11 years ago. It's saved the lives of countless people. All equipment on the shelves was purchased by the group's members.

ZHANG YONG, FOUNDER BLUE SKY RESCUE "Most of the equipment is self-funded, and some provinces have the government purchase services from the local team and donate equipment, but that is only a small part."

Equipment is just a portion of the expenses; rescuers need to pay for their insurance, rental cars, gasoline, airfares and more. Blue Sky Rescue now has nearly 500 local groups in China, six international teams, and equipment worth of hundreds of millions of US dollars.

WANG XIAOZHOU, TEAM LEADER BASED IN SHANDONG BLUE SKY RESCUE "I believe it is worth all the effort and myself purchasing equipment and so on if just one life is saved. It's essential to the person's family and friends. From a broader point of view, it saves a family and it is good for society. If each one of us makes a small contribution, we'll have a better community."

Wang Xiaozhou is a doctor who has been part of the organization for 11 years. He's a team leader based in Shandong. His daughter has always thought he is a firefighter. All these years he's worked in natural disasters and accidents, and provided medical assistance during rescue efforts.

WANG XIAOZHOU, TEAM LEADER BASED IN SHANDONG BLUE SKY RESCUE "My daughter thinks her father is a hero, and in the movies, heroes die at the end. So she asked me: 'Dad, will you come back alive?' I said, of course I would, but later I realized there is no guarantee. Nobody knows what is going to happen in a natural disaster. We can only improve our ability to save lives and stay safe."

Personnel are now much better equipped than they were 10 years ago, with cutting-edge devices and technology to rescue people and protect the rescuers themselves.

ZHANG YONG, FOUNDER BLUE SKY RESCUE "We all rely on our trust and ideas to build cohesion, rather than money. Funding is a long-term challenge, but the most important thing is to improve the standard management system of our rescue teams."

Blue Sky Rescue has over 30,000 registered volunteers available for immediate assignments. Their slogan is "smart action, silent devotion". Zhang Yong says honesty, integrity, courage, and humility carry them through challenging times and so that rescue efforts will go on. Liu Yang, CGTN, Beijing.