The State Council announced the regulations on Relief to ensure the basic livelihood of the disaster victims.

According to Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, July 14th (Reporter Sui Xiaofei) Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council recently signed State Council decree No. 577 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 regulations are formulated to standardize the relief work of natural disasters and to ensure the basic livelihood of the 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 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.

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 expenses such as comfort for relatives of victims of the disaster. 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.