China launches 21 national disaster responses so far this year

BEIJING, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) — China has activated a total of 21 disaster-relief responses at the national level so far this year, Wang Daoxi, vice minister of the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM), told a press conference on Wednesday.
“Our disaster-response action has been more timely, frequent and effective,” said Wang, noting that the response level has been upgraded five times this year, according to the change of the disaster situation.
Since the flood season, the MEM and the Ministry of Finance have earmarked about 3.13 billion yuan (about 440 million U.S. dollars) of central disaster-relief funds in 9 batches, with faster allocation efficiency and greater support, Wang said.
The National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration and the MEM have allocated 473,200 items of central disaster-relief materials, such as folding beds, quilts and family emergency kits, in 21 batches.
Wang added that relevant departments are speeding up post-disaster recovery and reconstruction work, including the repair of infrastructure and damaged houses in the disaster-hit areas. ■