Citizens in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region have actively donated blood in the past few days to rescue massive injured people following the July 5 riot. The lack of blood for clinical use in Urumqi hospitals have been eased.

12:30 at noon, a lot of Urumqi citizens were seen queuing up in front of a blood donation station the Friendship Shopping Center. Staff working in the station told Xinhua over 20 Urumqi citizens have donated blood since 11:00 a.m., and 60 to 70 people are still waiting to do the same. The number of blood donors triples that of a normal day.

Soundbite: a Urumqi citizen

"The only thing I can do is to donate blood. This is the obligation for every Urumqi citizen. I am still waiting because the queue is quite long."

There are three beds in the blood donation office. Office staff told Xinhua it is the first time for many citizens to donate blood.

Soundbite: Liu Jin, staff with Urumqi Blood Donation Center

"After getting to know hospitals are short of blood, many citizens come here in their voluntary capacity. It is also the first time for most of them to donate blood."

It is learned many large enterprises in Urumqi have organized their employees to donate blood. And the hospitals' urgent demand for blood is expected to be alleviated.

(XHTV July 9, 2009)