VSO leaves China over Sars

Sars has caused panic in China

The threat of Sars has forced British group Voluntary Service Overseas to leave China, delaying much-needed work.

Workers were ordered to leave because of the "risk of VSO being unable to provide adequate medical assistance to volunteers in the event of illness".

VSO, founded in 1958, sends key professionals such as doctors and engineers and teachers to developing areas.

A spokesman for the British Embassy in China said there were about 120 volunteers in the country, although it was not known exactly where they were.

VSO has 2,000 people working in developing countries at any one time, although recruitment levels plummeted after the 11 September attacks.

The organisation's website said its office in Beijing would remain open "for the time being".

By the new school year the situation will be stabilised

VSO

It continued: "Staff are extremely busy supporting volunteers and arranging travel."

VSO said it believed the risk of contracting Sars was low but that travel restrictions in provincial China meant any volunteer who did contract the virus would find it difficulty travelling to get treatment.

The World Health Organisation has warned against travel to Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanxi, and Guangdong, but VSO said the situation regarding other provinces was unclear.

VSO said it was hoped its volunteers could return to China as soon as possible.

It said: "The WHO are working with the Chinese health authorities and measures are being implemented to bring Sars under control.

"We fully expect that by the new school year the situation will be stabilised and that evacuated volunteers will be able to return and new volunteers able to begin their placements.