Frequent and severe natural disasters happening in China this year have so far left 2,145 people dead and caused economic losses of 188.6 billion yuan (US$22.7 billion).

Besides the severe flooding in the south and insect pest problems in the north, about 30 earthquakes above five on Richter Scale rocked China and rare droughts hit the northern, northeastern and southwestern areas in summer. Fearful hailstorms, landslides and mud-rock flows also caused severe casualties and economic losses in some regions.

China is a country frequently hit by natural disasters, and in recent years, with the surprisingly rapid growth of the economy, the country's ecological environment is degrading, restricting its capacity to withstand natural disasters.

"Along with the development of the national economy, losses caused by natural catastrophes have been snowballing year after year," said Minister of Civil Affairs Li Xueju.

Soil erosion, desertification, excessive use of water resources, water pollution and the encroachment of foreign species are major ecological problems worsening the situation, said Yang Chaofei, director of the Natural and Ecological Protection Department of the State Environmental Protection Administration.

The utilization rate of water resources is at 60 percent for the Huaihe River, 65 percent for the Liaohe River, 62 percent for the Yellow River and as high as 90 percent for the Haihe River, all surpassing the internationally accepted warning line of 30-40 percent.

As a result, the natural process of water purification in the rivers is barely functioning, and the ecological environment along the rivers will be damaged, according to Wang Shucheng, minister of water resources.

China is now one of the world's worst sufferers of weather-related disasters, which inflict direct economic losses accounting for 3 percent to 6 percent of its whole Gross Domestic Product, said Qin Dahe, director-general of the China Meteorological Administration.

Higher temperatures have brought about numerous problems in ecology, resources and environment, which include frequent dry spells, tropical cyclones, a rapid rise in the number of rainstorms and severe droughts, experts said.

China's annual Central Economic Conference, which was held last month, focused on sustainable development as well as the balance between human beings and nature, agreeing to give more financial support to environmental protection.

The government this year has sent 51 relief work teams to 18 provinces that suffered disasters like earthquakes, floods, droughts, landslides and mud-rock flows, and has given 3 billion yuan (US$361 million) for relief funds and 122,000 tents for shelters in disaster-hit areas, assuring supplies of food, drinking water, and medical treatment, according to sources with the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

(Xinhua News Agency December 24, 2003)