World Bank gives China $710m loan

The World Bank has said it is giving China a $710m (£487m) loan to help rebuild areas hit by last year's Wenchuan earthquake.

• The money will finance reconstruction projects in the infrastructure, health and education sectors in the two most-affected provinces Sichuan and Gansu.
• The earthquake, which hit on 12 May 2008, was China’s worst for 30 years, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale.
• Almost 90,000 people were killed and five million were left homeless.
• “This project will assist many communities affected by the devastating earthquake to rebuild their lives by restoring essential services,” said project manager Mara Warwick.
• Last year, China’s leaders allocated 70bn yuan ($10bn; £7bn) to a reconstruction fund for the earthquake.
• It is estimated the disaster cost China $123bn in direct economic losses.