Sichuan's quake relief authority began to recruit volunteers today to supervise the allocation of quake relief funds and materials after a scandal erupted over tents in the capital city Chengdu, Xinhua news agency reported today.

All healthy adults above 20 years old can apply to be a supervisor, the report said.

Applicants need go to the provincial supervision bureau with their identity cards or their employee ID card from today to Friday, the report added.

Supervisors will start immediately if they are selected.

The address of the bureau is No.3 Shangyehoujie Street in Chengdu City.

Just several days ago, tents emblazoned with the words "for victims only" and "Ministry of Civil Affairs, China" and some from overseas donations were found pitched on the lawns of high-end residential areas in Chengdu. The tents were supposed to go to people in counties such as Wenchuan, the epicenter of the May 12 quake, and Beichuan.

People in Chengdu were warned to sleep outside as authorities warned of potential strong aftershocks.

Photos of the misallocated tents were posted on some Internet sites, attracting nationwide attention.

The province's Civil Affairs Administration has launched an investigation into the tent scandal, previous reports said.

Meanwhile, police have caught a shop owner who was suspected of selling tents with fake disaster relief logos in Chengdu.

The man, surnamed Li, ran a parachute facility shop in Chengdu. He allegedly copied the Red Cross Society's logos on the tents he bought after the May 12 earthquake. He also used Red Cross logos on other goods.

Li told police that his products would sell faster with the logos since tents are in extremely short supply.

(Shanghai Daily May 26, 2008)