The central government departments have allocated more than 4.1 billion yuan (US$500 million) for the relief of natural disaster sufferers and rescue efforts since the beginning of this year, according to a press conference in Beijing Thursday.

A disaster rescue and relief mechanism has been set up to properly arrange the affected people and reconstruct the disaster-stricken areas, said the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Last year, the central government earmarked 14.222 billion yuan(US$1.7 billion) for the disaster relief efforts, such as flood and drought control, resettlement of the affected, and reconstruction.

So far this year, the ministry has made 25 emergency responses, sent 49 working teams to the disaster-hit areas, and allocated 2.3 billion yuan (US$280.5 million) as relief funds to fight against disasters.

In addition, it has also managed to provide 38,000 tents as part of the relief supplies and relocated 13.35 million evacuees.
 
(Xinhua News Agency September 23, 2005)