The government yesterday again called on the international community to provide tents to quake-hit Sichuan province, saying about 3.3 million are needed.

About 400,000 tents have been sent to quake-hit areas but they are far from enough, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said at a regular press conference.

To make up for the shortfall, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development yesterday urged local authorities to build 1 million temporary homes by August 10.

Underscoring the urgency of the situation, President Hu Jintao visited two tent manufacturers in Zhejiang province yesterday, urging them to produce as many as possible.

The government has said it needs tents to house nearly 5 million people displaced by the magnitude-8 quake on May 12.

Earlier yesterday, Hu presided over a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

The Party leadership ordered rescuers to search for trapped people in every village, to ensure that no one was left behind, and try to treat all injured people, in order to "save as many lives as possible".

They agreed that the current situation is still grave and the relief work is tough. It ordered shipments of more food, water, clothing and bedding, as well as tents and makeshift housing.

The leadership also urged local authorities to maintain social stability, assist farmers restore agricultural production, and help students go back to school as soon as possible.

To oversee relief work, Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday flew to the quake-battered zone - the second time in less than two weeks.

Wen said aboard the plane to Sichuan: "Reconstruction will be a hard and long-term task."

Wen flew in a helicopter to Beichuan county to inspect the situation at one of the largest "quake lakes" - formed when rivers are blocked by landslides - at 4:40 pm.

There are 34 such lakes in the province.

(China Daily, Xinhua and agencies, May 23, 2008)