Universities assist students whose families were hurt by quake

Major universities in Guangdong province are offering temporary hardship allowances to students whose families were affected by the recent earthquake in Gansu and Qinghai provinces.

An assessment of how many students are from the quake areas and how their families have been affected has been carried out, according to statement released by the Guangdong Department of Education on Wednesday.

At Sun Yat-sen University, students from the quake zone have been urged to contact their teachers and counselors, as the university will provide temporary financial assistance for students in need. It has established a special hotline and an e-mail address so students can contact the university for any help, it said in a statement.

South China University of Technology promptly provided funding for its students from stricken areas. It sent one-on-one messages urging students to contact the university if they encounter difficulties.

At the same time, counselors and teachers are following up on the studies and lives of students whose families are affected. The university has 14 students from Linxia Hui autonomous prefecture, Gansu province, where the quake hit hard.

Shenzhen University is offering subsidies to help students overcome their difficulties. Students can apply for the hardship subsidies both online and offline, the university said.

South China Agricultural University also attached great importance to the situation of students whose families are suffering. To help those students, the university is providing financial aid to those in need.

The university will provide corresponding hardship allowances based on individual circumstances for students whose immediate family members have died or lost contact, who have been disabled or rendered unable to work or whose houses having been damaged or destroyed. Allowance will also help with other significant losses that have created financial difficulties for students' families.