Ministries Move to Ensure Happy Festival for Disaster-Hit PeopleThe Ministry of Civil Affairs and Ministry of Finance have adopted measures to ensure those who have been affected by natural calamities to have a happy and peaceful Spring Festival.The Spring Festival, China's traditional New Year based on the Lunar Calendar falls on January 24 this year. The two ministries recently allocated 850 million yuan to the areas that were devastated by disasters in 2000. Meanwhile, the ministries recently issued a joint circular urging local government departments concerned to help the disaster-affected people who are still plagued with many difficulties in their daily life. The circular called on local governments to make full use of disaster relief funds from the central government and ensure that the money is spent where it is needed most. According to official sources, in 2000, parts of the country witnessed droughts, floods, sandstorms, snowstorms, hails and earthquakes. So far, the two ministries have distributed 3.2 billion yuan to the affected areas. |
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