Chinese spurn state for quake aid Two earthquake survivors enjoy a meal in a tent. At least 188 people were killed and nearly 12,000 injured in the weekend quake. The devastating earthquake that struck south-west China last weekend has drawn a flood of donations from across the country. But in contrast to the pattern after a major quake in the same region five years ago, those eager to bolster relief efforts are looking to donate to private charity organisations, not to official groups that have a reputation for corruption. The Red Cross Society of China, a state-run organisation that is the country's largest charity, has yet to recover from a 2011 scandal that struck a serious blow to China's nascent notions of philanthropy, especially philanthropy guided by the government. "Compared to the opaque system that most state-supported charity organisations have, non-governmental organisations and the newly emerged so-called micro-charities follow a more transparent system," said Deng Guosheng, director of the NGO Research Centre at Tsinghua University in Beijing. On its microblog, the Red Cross said that as of 5pm Sunday it had received more than $10 million. One private group, Sina Micro-charities, reported collecting more than $13 million, the Global Times, a state-run newspaper, said. On Monday, relief and rescue efforts continued in the broad area around Ya'an in Sichuan province, the epicentre of an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7 that struck on Saturday morning. The Ministry of Civil Affairs said at least 188 people had been killed, while 25 were missing and nearly 12,000 had been injured. The quake had affected 1.72 million people, the ministry said. Rescuers on foot finally reached Baoxing County, the area hardest hit by the quake, at 1pm on Monday. The Civil Affairs Ministry also "asked charity groups to regulate donations intended for Sichuan, calling for transparency and social supervision," the China Daily said. The report said the ministry had issued a statement that said groups organising donation drives for quake victims "should publicise information about their activities and donation incomes in accordance with existing regulations." China has a few flashy philanthropists, most notably the recycling magnate Chen Guangbiao, and a handful of prominent private charities, including One Foundation, founded by Jet Li, the kung fu film star. But the notion of giving to worthy causes is less widespread than in the West. In 2010, Warren Buffett and Bill Gates flew to Beijing to encourage philanthropy and invited a select group of tycoons to meet them; some declined to attend. But in times of disaster, there are always people who rush to give aid, like Li Chengpeng, a writer in Sichuan and frequent critic of Communist Party policies. On his microblog, Mr Li wrote about the experience of organising donations to the stricken area. He said his team had delivered 498 tents and 1250 cotton quilts to the village of Wuxing on Sunday night. The high point of recent Chinese philanthropy was touched off by the 2008 earthquake, which ravaged large swaths of Sichuan and nearby provinces. About 90,000 people were killed or went missing, and many more were injured. Many Chinese volunteered and charities were inundated with donations. By February 2011, the Red Cross Society of China had received about $650 million in donations, according to a report on the website of the China News Service, an official agency. But the Red Cross became a pariah in the eyes of many Chinese after a scandal two years ago that centred on Guo Meimei, a 20-year-old woman who had posted photographs of herself online posing next to Italian sports cars, hoarding Hermes handbags and flying in business-class cabins. She claimed to be the "commercial general manager" at the Red Cross. People speculated whether she had obtained her title by being the mistress of a top Red Cross official. As a result, Chinese are saying on microblogs and other forums people should avoid the Red Cross. "It is so sad to see how much a state-run charity organisation is struggling; the Red Cross in China evidently has a very low credibility," wrote Xu Shaolin, a frequent commentator on societal issues and politics, on his microblog. Global Times reported distrust of the Red Cross had driven many to donate via blog services started by private companies.