Wenchuan earthquake 2008: recovery and reconstruction in Sichuan province

This review addresses the catastrophic Wenchuan Earthquake of 12 May 2008 with the objectives of: (i) strengthening operational recovery procedures with regard to the integration of disaster risk reduction; (ii) defining lessons learned and good practices for integrating disaster mitigation in post disaster operations; and (iii) informing the transition from relief to recovery. The report is specifically designed to review and document good practices and experiences of the Government and people of China in the recovery and reconstruction operations following the Wenchuan Earthquake. It also summarizes the cases with potential for application by governments and peoples in other disaster‐prone regions.

This report is a joint effort by the China Earthquake Administration (CEA), the Department of Civil Affairs of Sichuan Province, the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Recovery Platform (IRP).