It's been over six months since the massive earthquake rocked Chinas SichuanProvince/st1 :place>. Over seventy thousand lost their lives, including nineteen thousand students. /span>
Thousands more lost loved ones, and another 18,000 are still classified as "missing." While the media spotlight on China/st1 :country-region> has dramatically shifted from quake to other events, including the Olympics, the melamine-food safety scandals, and the global financial downturn, many survivors have yet to resume normal life./span>
For starters, only about twenty five percent of the bodies have been identified, which doesn't bode well for those looking for a sense of closure after the death of a loved one. Another four million remain homeless, and while the tents and initial supplies provided ample shelter during the mild summer months, freezing winter temperatures are coming quickly. /span>
200,000 homes have been rebuilt, with another 685,000 being reconstructed, but they'll need almost two million more to keep up with the demand. /span>
Despite the bleak situation, many hope that the newly approved government stimulus package of $585 billion will provide some much-needed relief for the citizens of SichuanProvince/st1 :place>. /span>
By 2010, an estimated $440 billion dollars will be needed to complete the relief efforts, and while not all of the money will be invested in the earthquake zone, it could go a long way in terms of improving infrastructure and creating jobs in some of the most heavily damaged areas./span>
Of course, even the noblest monetary efforts can't heal some of the lingering emotional scars. The government has opened 1,000 psychological clinics in the area to help the mental health of residents, but many, including local government officials, have committed suicide./span>
As with any major national disaster, there's a long, rocky road to recovery. While there are steps in place to ease the pain, for many families, they can never be enough./span>