BEIJING: Two ministries will allocate 40 million yuan ($5.5 million) from natural disaster relief funds to support the provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan.
The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management said in a circular issued on Sunday that they will allocate 20 million yuan to Sichuan for forest fire relief, while 20 million yuan will be allocated to Yunnan to tackle drought disasters.
The funds will be primarily used to address water shortages for urban and rural residents, and purchase or lease emergency equipment for water supply and purification. Local authorities will use the funds to organize personnel to ensure water supply for residents, and provide assistance to those facing temporary living difficulties due to disasters.
The Ministry of Finance urged the finance departments of both provinces to expedite the disbursement of the funds to disaster areas and effectively strengthen fund management, the circular said.
In mid-March, a forest fire broke out in Yajiang county, Sichuan, while residents in drought-affected parts of Yunnan have experienced a shortage of water in recent days. Major sections of the forest fire in Yajiang, which was caused by the use of fire at a construction site, have been extinguished.
The National Forestry and Grassland Administration and other departments issued a notice last week announcing the launch of a special action to effectively identify and rectify the hidden dangers of forest and grassland fires. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
