China has been working on building a comprehensive disaster
response system.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs is urging local branches to
establish a mechanism to provide disaster relief materials
quickly.
Local governments are also urged to establish communication
networks and emergency plans for disaster response.
Natural disasters killed over 2,000 people and cost direct loss
worth over 160 billion yuan or some US$20 billion in China last
year.
(CRI February 21, 2005)