May 23, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 17, 1429

BEIJING, May 22: China issued an international appeal on Thursday for 3.3 million tents and temporary shelters for those left homeless by last week’s earthquake.

“The number is very big. We need more than 3.3 million tents or pop-up shelters,” foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a press briefing. “We hope the international community will prioritise tents in providing assistance to China.”China has said more than 5.2 million people have been left homeless by the quake, which also caused 41,353 confirmed deaths. Another 32,666 people are missing, the government said on Wednesday.

While thanking the international community for relief goods provided so far, Qin said China still needed much more, including blankets, clothing, shoes and food aid.—AFP