By hannover-web.com On October 22, the Ministry of Emergency Management held its quarterly press conference to discuss the national safety production and natural disaster situation in the first three quarters of the year, along with updates on key recent initiatives. At the conference, Chen Sheng, Director of the Disaster Relief Department, highlighted the increase in natural disasters this year, which have had a widespread impact and caused significant losses to people’s lives and properties. He emphasized that ensuring the safety and comfort of disaster-affected communities during the winter is a top priority. The Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, has proactively issued operational guidelines and developed an application system, as the nationwide winter-spring relief efforts for 2024-2025 have been fully launched.
Chen noted that emergency management departments across various levels, along with grassroots community leaders, are actively promoting relief policies. They are going door-to-door to assess needs, following a structured process of household reporting, village evaluation, town approval, and county confirmation through the National Natural Disaster Relief Fund Management System. As of today, over 21 million disaster-affected individuals have submitted applications for winter-spring relief. Moving forward, the Ministry of Emergency Management plans to focus on several key areas:
First, accurately identifying the needs of affected populations. With approximately 30 million individuals typically eligible for assistance each year, it’s crucial to ensure that no one is overlooked and that assistance is fairly and justly distributed. The Ministry will emphasize support for key vulnerable groups and will be sending teams to provinces with significant need for on-the-ground guidance.
Second, increasing financial support. Once the scale of relief recipients is determined, the Ministry will collaborate with the Ministry of Finance to expedite the allocation of central relief funds based on local needs. Particular attention will be given to heavily impacted areas from this year’s major flood season, the earthquake-affected regions, and places dealing with extreme cold, ensuring that disaster victims receive necessary assistance according to relevant policies.
Third, ensuring efficient distribution of funds and supplies. Recognizing that the winter-spring relief processes are lengthy and complex, the Ministry aims to ensure that all allocated funds and materials reach disaster-affected individuals before the Chinese New Year. To facilitate this, they plan to enforce responsibilities, streamline operations, and assist localities in overcoming any challenges encountered during distribution. Furthermore, provinces with larger funding amounts will receive individualized follow-ups, while those lagging behind will be promptly reminded to catch up.
Lastly, the Ministry will foster a supportive environment for disaster-affected communities this year by launching a “Winter-Spring Relief in Action” campaign. This initiative will highlight key regions and individuals through coverage of relief measures and the daily lives of those impacted by disasters.
