The recent outbreak of COVID-19, a highly infectious and deadly disease caused by a new type of coronavirus originally identified in Wuhan, China, has been drawing worldwide attention. While IWHR staff members are fighting the epidemic together with the entire population of our country, we receive many warm words of care and encouragement from our overseas friends.
“Are you in Wuhan? How are you managing? I hope you will be able to stay safe and healthy. I know I cannot help, but believe me you are in our thoughts every day. If you can, please let me know how are you doing. Wishing you all the best.”
These are the greeting words from Mr. Slobodan P. Simonovic, President of International Conference on Flood Management (ICFM) and an academician of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, sent from City of London, Canada.
As a friend of IWHR for many years, at the end of January when the Lunar New Year came, Professor Simonovic sent his holiday message to the ICFM secretariat stationed at IWHR. He especially wrote “Happy Spring Festival” in Chinese, and hoped that all colleagues of the secretariat and their families stay safe and healthy in this difficult situation.
President Simonovic has sent greetings to the secretariat many times during the COVID-19 outbreak, asking if everyone is doing well.
One expert of the secretariat is now staying in Wuhan, where the disease was originally reported, together with his family. Professor Simonovic specially asked him to take care.
The message above is sent from New Delhi, India, by Mr. Harish Kumar Varma, Executive Director of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID). He stated solidarity with all colleagues and friends of the Chinese National Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (CNCID) and support in fighting the new virus.
The CNCID secretariat stationed at IWHR also received care and concern from the Egyptian Committee, Italian Committee, Moroccan Committee, and other ICID fraternities.
Such greeting is from International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) President Michael Rogers, wishing health and safety for all his Chinese friends. ICOLD Secretary-General Micheal De Vivo expressed his concern for Chinese colleagues and confidence in China to contain the outbreak via a phone call from Paris, France.
The Austrian and Nepalese National Committee on Large Dams also extended their wishes to the Chinese National Committee.
Mr. Peter Goodwin, former President of International Association of Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR), described China’s response to the outbreak “impressive” on Wechat. The serving President Joseph H.W. Lee, Executive Director Tom Soo and former Executive Director Christopher as well delivered their concerns and best wishes to colleagues of the IAHR Beijing office in IWHR.
Professor Ildefonso Pla, former President of World Association of Soil and Water Conservation (WASWAC) said in his email that WASWAC stands together with Chinese people in this difficult time. He hoped the outbreak could be quickly contained.
Also have sent their greetings, concerns and best wishes are:
The Global Water Partnership (GWP);
The Asian Water Council (AWC), which also donated surgical face masks to the Changjiang Hospital of Changjiang Water Resources Commission in Wuhan;
The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT);
The Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-Water);
The Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM);
The National Taiwan University, National Chiayi University and National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan, China;
The secretariat of the Cross-Strait Water Technology Seminar.
The ongoing outbreak does not stop IWHR’s work, neither our confidence that we can win this battle and create a wonderful future. China is taking strong measures to protect lives and properties; working with our country, we believe that the outbreak will be soon contained. We sincerely thank all the warm words from overseas, and we will keep working together with all of our friends towards a better world.
