In the cold, hungry, and drenched state, with a broken umbrella, Tanweer Aqsa, a Pakistani girl, and her family were at a loss regarding what to do and where to go when they learned that public transport in the city, including the high-speed train to Hong Kong, had been suspended and public areas had been closed due to Typhoon Saola yesterday afternoon.

　　In the final resolution, the family of four, including Tanweer Aqsa, her brother, and two sisters, sought help from the police station in Meilin Subdistrict, Futian District and were taken good care of by the Meidu Community Service Center in the subdistrict for the night when Typhoon Saola battered the city with strong winds and heavy rain.

Tanweer Aqsa from Pakistan at an interview with Shenzhen Daily this morning. Photos by Liu Xudong

　　“Thanks to Shenzhen police officers and staffers with the Meidu Community Service Center who offered us food and juices and arranged the hotel for us to spend the night in Shenzhen, ”  Tanweer Aqsa said at an interview this morning, when the typhoon alert had been downgraded. 

　　“Everything was in a rush in the afternoon. Though it was raining outside in the evening, the police officers took us to the community center and the community staff members took us to a hotel nearby and arranged everything for us, ” she said. 

　　Chen Binhui, deputy secretary of the Meidu Community, recalled when the four came for help Friday night at an interview this morning. 

Chen Binhui, deputy secretary of the Meidu Community, at an interview with Shenzhen Daily this morning.

　　"The family of four had planned to visit the Shenzhen Mosque in Meilin, but the place was closed due to the typhoon. We reported the situation to Wang Hanwei, director of the Meilin Subdistrict Office, and sought help from a hotel owner in our community, whose daughter could serve as an interpreter. The hotel graciously offered free accommodation for them until the typhoon's impact had passed," said Chen. 

　　The family planned to leave the city for Hong Kong as the public transport has resumed. 

　　“It is so safe to be here in Shenzhen. We spent a comfortable, relaxing night. We video called our parents over and over again to tell them we are safe here in Shenzhen, and they were also relaxed,” said Tanweer Aqsa.  

　　“I don’t have words to explain my feelings because we are so happy. I would say thank you to all of the people who helped us,” said Tanweer Aqsa, before the family left the city for Hong Kong. 

　　During the Typhoon Saola period, the community, following the requirement of the city, opened the service center as a shelter and a 24-hour hotline for people in need. Staffers were arranged to be on duty around the clock.  

　　In the past few days, since the city issued a typhoon warning, the community has increased checks in parks, business areas, and construction sites within its area, and has successfully relocated a total of 581 individuals to safety.

　　来源：ShenzhenDaily