Vice Premier Urges Relief for Snow Storm-Hit XinjiangVice-Premier Wen Jiabao has called for efforts to provide relief to the blizzard-hit areas in Altay, Tacheng, Ili, Changji, Hami and Bayan Bulag in northern and eastern parts of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.At a recent meeting on relief to the blizzard hit areas, Wen also conveyed the sympathy of President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji to the people in the snow storm-affected areas. Over 900,000 people have been affected and more than 10 million heads of livestock stranded by snow storms in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China. In order to relieve the disaster-hit areas, the central government has decided to dispatch funds and goods to Xinjiang. Wen discussed relief measures with Xinjiang officials, saying that snow-blocked roads should be cleared for transportation of relief goods as soon as possible. He urged the local government in Xinjiang to provide subsistence aid for disaster victims and fodder for livestock. He also asked the local government to take precautionary measures against the outbreak of diseases and floods caused by melting snow. |
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