The State Council promulgates the regulations on Natural disaster Relief

Xinhua Beijing, July 14-Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council recently signed decree No. 577 of the State Council, promulgating the regulations on Natural disaster Relief, which will come into force on September 1, 2010.

The regulations are divided into seven chapters and 35 articles. The purpose of the regulations is to standardize natural disaster relief work and ensure the basic livelihood of disaster victims.

The regulations stipulate that natural disaster relief work follows the principles of people-oriented, government-led, level-by-level management, social mutual assistance, and disaster victims' self-help. The administrative leaders of the people's governments at all levels shall be responsible for the relief work of natural disasters.

The regulations stipulate that the local people's governments at or above the county level and their relevant departments shall, in accordance with the relevant laws, regulations and rules, the emergency plans of the people's governments at higher levels and their relevant departments, as well as the investigation of the risk of natural disasters in their respective administrative areas, formulate corresponding emergency plans for natural disaster relief. The emergency plan for natural disaster relief shall include the following contents: emergency organization and command system for natural disaster relief and its responsibilities; emergency response team for natural disaster relief; emergency funds, materials and equipment for natural disaster relief; early warning and forecasting of natural disasters and reporting and processing of disaster information; grades and corresponding measures for emergency response to natural disaster relief; post-disaster emergency relief and measures for the recovery and reconstruction of residential housing.

The regulations stipulate that if a natural disaster occurs and meets the starting conditions of the emergency plan for natural disaster relief, the people's government at or above the county level or the comprehensive coordination agency of the people's government for natural disaster relief shall promptly initiate the emergency response to natural disaster relief, take one or more of the following measures: immediately announce to the public government response measures and public preventive measures; emergency transfer and resettlement of disaster victims Urgently allocate and transport emergency funds and materials for natural disaster relief, provide emergency assistance such as food, drinking water, clothing, heating, temporary shelter, medical epidemic prevention, etc., to ensure the basic livelihood of the disaster victims; comfort the disaster victims, deal with the aftermath of the victims; organize the disaster victims to carry out self-rescue and mutual rescue; analyze and evaluate the trend of the disaster situation and the needs of the disaster areas, and take corresponding natural disaster relief measures. Organize donation activities for natural disaster relief.

The regulations stipulate that the people's governments of the disaster-stricken areas shall, on the premise of ensuring safety, carry out transitional resettlement for the disaster-stricken people by combining local resettlement with remote resettlement, government resettlement and self-resettlement. Local resettlement shall choose places with convenient transportation and convenient recovery of production and life, and avoid areas where secondary natural disasters may occur, so as not to occupy or occupy less cultivated land as far as possible.

The regulations stipulate that funds and materials for natural disaster relief shall be used for emergency relocation and resettlement of disaster victims, basic livelihood assistance, medical assistance, recovery and reconstruction of education, medical care and other public service facilities and housing, procurement, storage and transportation of natural disaster relief materials, as well as comforting relatives of victims of natural disasters. The civil affairs, finance and other departments of the people's governments of the disaster-stricken areas and relevant social organizations shall, through newspapers and periodicals, radio, television and the Internet, take the initiative to disclose to the public the sources, quantities and uses of the funds and materials accepted for natural disaster relief and donations. (reporter Sui Xiaofei)