GENEVA, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Friday praised China's "rapid" and "effective" relief efforts after a powerful earthquake hit the country's southwestern Sichuan province on Monday.

　　"I think the government's response has been massive, rapid, and to my understanding, very effective," said Matthew Cochrane, a spokesman and disaster relief expert of the Geneva-based humanitarian organization.

　　In an interview with Xinhua, Cochrane said searching and rescuing survivors is the most important thing after the strike of a strong earthquake.

　　The Chinese government and the military have moved quickly, and "that's very important in a disaster to get the resources needed as quickly as possible," he said.

　　The official also highly praised the immediate response of the Chinese Red Cross, a member of the Geneva-based Federation.

　　The Chinese Red Cross has already sent five medical teams to provide emergency assistance to people injured in the earthquake, and its staff has been distributing a huge amount of things, including tents, clothing and food, he said.

　　"They are a very extraordinarily strong organization, very capable," he added.

　　The Chinese Red Cross has also got necessary help from the federation, which launched an emergency appeal of 20 million Swissfrancs (about 19.3 million U.S. dollars) on Thursday to aid China's relief work.

　　"The goal is to support the Chinese Red Cross in the first place, to help them restock their warehouses, which have been emptied out in the response," Cochrane said.

　　The appeal will also support longer term recovery efforts like the reconstruction of at least 1,000 homes, he said.

　　It's very important for civil societies like the Red Cross to coordinate and cooperate with the government in disaster responses, he said, adding that they need to share their assessments, response plans and experience so that their rescue efforts can reach as many people as possible.