Census yields raw material for disaster-relief planning

Background tasks

Yang noted that China, the country most affected by natural disasters, has been shifting the focus of its emergency-response efforts from relief to prevention.

A 2020 World Bank report said that in the past few decades, China has been hit by every type of major natural disaster, barring volcanic eruptions. The frequency of such incidents has been high and they have caused significant losses, both financial and human.

Yang said that in recent years, the country has paid more attention to disaster prevention than ever before, compared with relief and rescue work.

"However, we didn't have sufficient data about specific industries — especially those related to housing and combustible materials in forests — to integrate various data and undertake a comprehensive analysis of disaster risks," she said, adding that the survey was designed to provide a picture of the fundamental state of the country.

In 2018, President Xi Jinping decided to launch the census at a meeting specifically arranged to discuss improvements to the nation's disaster-prevention-and-response abilities. Two years later, the State Council officially started the census by releasing details, including the schedule, funding sources and objects to be surveyed.

The nationwide investigation has now concluded. "Our investigations have given us a basic awareness of the risks and hidden dangers of natural disasters across the country and the ability to counter such events in key areas. That has laid a solid foundation for disaster-risk assessment and regional planning in the coming years," Zheng said.