Two years ago, Southern Metropolis News helped raise 100,000 yuan (US$12,080) in donations for a pair of twins who suffer from Thalassaemia, an inherited form of anaemia. But the newspaper recently learned that the money has brought the family more misery than relief.

The twins, born to a low-income family in 1996, need regular blood transfusions costing at least 500 yuan (US$60) per month. Childless retiree Li, a neighbour, gave his 400-yuan (US$48) pension to the family every month. The newspaper reported the family's plight and Li's generosity in July 2000.

Afterwards, the family received public donations totalling 100,000 yuan. The media report also helped settle the family's residency in Guangzhou so they could qualify for a government subsidy.

However, the twins' parents quarrelled frequently after receiving the money.

In March 2001, Yang, the mother, filed for divorce. Cao, the father, regarded the 100,000 as "a gift from heaven" and had been trying to generate a fortune by gambling the money, Yang said. The couple divorced in October 2001, but fights over custody and money issues continued. Li, the kindly neighbour, continually sighed when he was interviewed. "The couple told lies about each other," he said.

And he worried about the twins - the girl is now being raised by her father and the boy by the mother - because they seemed very unhappy.

"My brother used to play with me," said the girl, whose only entertainment is watching TV.

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