The Communist Party of China (CPC) discipline watchdog has ordered its officials of all levels to step up monitoring and inspection on disaster relief work in the country's southwest earthquake-hit regions.

Inspectors should ensure local authorities were fully implementing central government disaster relief policies, according to a circular issued by the discipline watchdog of the CPC on Tuesday.

The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and the Ministry of Supervision ordered officials to properly perform their duties and to take effective measures to restore transportation, electricity, communications and water supply.

Supervision departments at all levels are also ordered to intensify supervision over management and the use of disaster-relief funds and donations to ensure the money and materials are properly used to help victims.

Those found to be derelict in their duty or embezzling disaster-relief funds or donations will be severely punished according to the laws and regulations, the circular said.

A strong quake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale jolted Wenchuan County in northwest part of Sichuan Province at 2:28 p.m. on Monday, causing at least 12,000 deaths by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday in Sichuan alone.

(Xinhua News Agency May 13, 2008)