Natural disasters in China have left 2,145 people dead and
caused economic losses of 188.6 billion yuan (US$22.7 billion) in
total so far this year, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said
Friday.?
The ministry said natural disasters damaged 60 million hectares
of farmland, while displacing over seven million people and
toppling 3.48 million rooms.
Yang Qianyin, vice minister of civil affairs, said at a national
relief work meeting on Friday that the ministry has sent 51 relief
work teams to 18 provinces that suffered disasters like earthquake,
flood, drought, landslide and mud-rock flow.
The central government has given a total of 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,
warming items and medical treatment.
Yang said the ministry was working hard with local governments
to provide adequate housing for people who lost their homes in
disasters to live through this winter and to provide enough food
for victims in disaster-affected areas.
(Xinhua News Agency November 15, 2003)