The State Council has agreed to raise subsidies for people
affected by natural disasters, saying the country was seeing worse
than average problems this year.
At an executive meeting Wednesday presided over by Premier Wen
Jiabao, the State Council raised the subsidy for rebuilding a room
destroyed in a natural disaster from 600 to 1,500 yuan.
Families who were permanently relocated from flood areas would
receive a payment of 20,400 yuan, up from 15,000 yuan.
State Councilors also agreed that appropriate subsidies be given
to people affected by severe droughts, and funds allocated for
recovering agricultural production and livestock quarantine.
More funds would be allocated for medical aid and disease
prevention.
The government, which has already earmarked 6.7 billion yuan for
natural disaster prevention and relief, will allocate another 11.54
billion yuan for the new subsidy levels.
A fund for the reinforcement of reservoirs was also
approved.
State Councilors were told China experienced an abnormal climate
and frequent extreme weather this year, triggering a range of
disasters simultaneously. The intensity and frequency of rainfall,
floods and droughts in some areas reached record levels.
The executive stressed that natural disaster relief had a direct
bearing on national economic and social conditions. Local
governments were instructed to fully implement all disaster relief
policies.
The meeting stressed that China is currently still in the flood
season. The Yellow River and the Haihe River valleys are still
experiencing intensive rainfalls. Droughts in south China and
northeast China are still lingering. Typhoons are prone to
occur.
Natural disasters monitoring and early warning must be
strengthened. Major embankments and reservoirs must be reinforced.
And preparations for resisting mud-and-rock flows, typhoons and
droughts must be in full swing, according to the meeting.
Agricultural production should be resumed as soon as possible.
Irritation and other infrastructural facilities must be repaired
immediately.
Departments concerned must make every effort to help rebuild
homes for disaster affected citizens and disaster relief fund must
be properly used in a frugal and efficient manner.
(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2007)