The State Council, China's central government, has issued a
national plan on emergency response for natural calamities.
The State Council issued on Sunday a national plan on emergency
response to guide the prevention and treatment of various incidents
including natural disasters, accidents, public health incidents and
social safety incidents.
The emergency response plan for natural disasters aims to
increase the government's effectiveness and competence in the face
of natural calamities, minimize people's losses of life and
property, and maintain social stability in disaster stricken
areas.
The emergency response plan for natural disasters falls into
five categories, including one plan for disaster relief and another
four plans for flooding and droughts, earthquakes, geologic
calamities like mud-rock flow, and forest fires.
The state disaster relief commission will take charge of the
coordination of natural disaster relief. The Ministry of Civil
Affairs and Ministry of
Finance will supervise the disaster relief budget and urge
local governments to increase investment in disaster relief.
The other four plans detail the scope that the emergency
response applies to and the corresponding responsibilities and
duties of governments at various levels in emergency response to
the natural disasters.?
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(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2006)
