Disaster relief work should be strengthened to ensure the basic life of people in disaster-stricken areas, Li Xueju, minister of civil affairs, said in Beijing on Saturday.

 

In particular, food and drinking water should be brought to the disaster-hit areas within 24 hours if any disaster is reported, Li said at the closing ceremony of a training class on disaster emergency response for local officials.

 

He called on local officials to establish a highly efficient emergency response system with clear-cut responsibilities, continue to improve their emergency plans and rescue capabilities, regularize reconstruction, put the emergency response management into the local overall planning of social and economic development.

 

The ability to forecast and prevent disasters should be enhanced depending on the development of science and technology, while reconstruction after disasters should also be strengthened to quickly bring to normal people's life and production as well as social order, Li added.

 

China has seen various mishaps this year, making it an urgent task for the government to build up disaster-warning networks.

 

Up to November, 1,855 lives were claimed in natural disasters in China and direct economic losses totaled 199 billion yuan (US$25 billion), according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

 

In July this year, the State Council, or China's cabinet, decided to set up a general emergency response plan, including 25 sub-plans for specific emergencies and 80 ministerial ones.

 

Priority should be given to the management in emergency response so that more human and material resources could be used in social management and public service, said Minister of Civil Affairs Li Xueju said.

 

The responsibility of central and local governments in emergency response management should be clarified and coordination and information exchange between the management departments should be strengthened, Li said at the closing ceremony of a training class on disaster relief for officials at prefecture and city level.

 

Disaster prevention and the quick reaction system should be improved to increase the social ability to prevent and control disasters, especially in large cities with high density of population and buildings, Li said.

 

China has seen various mishaps this year, making it an urgent task for the government to build up disaster-warning networks.

 

In this July this year, the State Council, or China's cabinet, decided to set up a general emergency response plan, including 25 sub-plans for specific emergencies and 80 ministerial ones.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 24, 2005)