China and the United Nations (UN) jointly established a drought
relief center in Beijing Monday, testimony to the country's
determination to cooperate with the international community to
fight drought.
The International Center for Drought Risk Reduction (ICDRR),
cosponsored by the United Nations International Strategy for
Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) and the National Disaster Reduction
Center of China (NDRCC), will evaluate drought risks and promote
cooperation between China and other Asian countries on
drought-relief, said Li Liguo, vice director of NDRCC and also vice
minister of civil affairs.
The ICDRR will promote the exchange of drought relief
information, expertise and knowledge among different countries,
collect novel drought risk reduction technologies and spread the
technologies by holding training courses. It will also launch
drought research, help improve government management of drought and
enhance public awareness of drought risk reduction.
According to Li, about half of the world's nearly 200 countries
regularly suffer drought. Developing countries are more severely
affected by drought.
By March 28, 203 million mu (13.5 million hectares) of
farmland in China had been affected by drought. 13.4 million people
and 12 million head of livestock across China suffered from
drinking water shortages due to prolonged drought, according to
statistics from the State Flood Control and Drought Relief
Headquarters (SFCDRH).
China has built up experience of drought early warning and
drought risk reduction in recent years and the Chinese government
is willing to play a bigger role in fighting global drought, said
Li.
(Xinhua News Agency April 3, 2007)
