China builds disaster relief network
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-06-05 10:24

China's Ministry of Civil Affairs will be informed within two hours after a heavy disaster takes place in most part of China, via a national disaster relief and first-aid network.

The government manages to send necessities such as food, drinking water and medicine to victims within 24 hours, said Wang Zhenyao, director of the Disaster Relief Department under the Ministry on June 4.

A national disaster relief and first-aid network and an information sharing platform has taken shape in the country. So far 80 percent of cities and counties have had a preparatory solution for disaster relief. Once a disaster happens, the relief measures can be put in place promptly, Wang said.

The central government has established relief material storage centers in ten cities to back most of the disaster-vulnerable regions in China.

Latest technologies including computer networking and remote sensing have been used to improve the country's capability to deal with emergencies and minimize the damage, Wang said.



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