Wen urges maximum aid drive on drought
Source: Xinhua |
March 22, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PREMIER Wen Jiabao has called for intensified and consistent efforts to relieve drought in the country's southwest and help the affected people overcome severe difficulties.
During a three-day trip to China's drought-plagued Yunnan Province that ended yesterday, Wen visited Qujing, one of the regions that suffered the most from the recent severe drought, to comfort affected locals and direct relief work.
On his trip, Wen went to drought-hit villages, farmlands and reservoirs to learn about the impact that the drought had on local life and farm production.
"I believe that men will not be beaten by the nature, and tough times will not last forever," he told villagers.
Wen said priority should be given to guarantees of drinking water supplies for local people as well as for preparations for spring farming.
He urged authorities to make maximum efforts and prepare for the worst as the drought "is likely to continue."
More efforts should be given to spring farming this year to guarantee a good harvest, which was needed to ensure steady and rapid economic growth and stable commodity prices, Wen said.
Wen also stressed the importance of the provision of enough food supplies to avoid significant fluctuations in prices and fulfill the basic needs of affected people.
To address water shortages, Wen ordered intensified efforts on construction of water-conservation projects and promised more government support in this field.
In neighboring Guizhou Province, the drought has cut irrigation for 830,000 hectares of crops and affected almost 17.28 million people, including 5.57 million suffering water shortages, according to the provincial government.
More than 3.1 million impoverished people in rural areas are short of grain supply due to a poor spring harvest.
The situation is expected to worsen in summer if the drought keeps cutting down grain output, according to Zhen Yanchi, vice director with the Guizhou Civil Affairs Administration.
The province has reported 2.88 billion yuan (US$421.88 million) in economic losses triggered by the drought.
China's State Commission of Disaster Relief has said severe drought has affected 51 million Chinese and left more than 16 million people and 11 million livestock with drinking water shortages.
Since autumn last year, southwest China, including Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou provinces, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chongqing City, has received only half its annual average rainfall.
During a three-day trip to China's drought-plagued Yunnan Province that ended yesterday, Wen visited Qujing, one of the regions that suffered the most from the recent severe drought, to comfort affected locals and direct relief work.
On his trip, Wen went to drought-hit villages, farmlands and reservoirs to learn about the impact that the drought had on local life and farm production.
"I believe that men will not be beaten by the nature, and tough times will not last forever," he told villagers.
Wen said priority should be given to guarantees of drinking water supplies for local people as well as for preparations for spring farming.
He urged authorities to make maximum efforts and prepare for the worst as the drought "is likely to continue."
More efforts should be given to spring farming this year to guarantee a good harvest, which was needed to ensure steady and rapid economic growth and stable commodity prices, Wen said.
Wen also stressed the importance of the provision of enough food supplies to avoid significant fluctuations in prices and fulfill the basic needs of affected people.
To address water shortages, Wen ordered intensified efforts on construction of water-conservation projects and promised more government support in this field.
In neighboring Guizhou Province, the drought has cut irrigation for 830,000 hectares of crops and affected almost 17.28 million people, including 5.57 million suffering water shortages, according to the provincial government.
More than 3.1 million impoverished people in rural areas are short of grain supply due to a poor spring harvest.
The situation is expected to worsen in summer if the drought keeps cutting down grain output, according to Zhen Yanchi, vice director with the Guizhou Civil Affairs Administration.
The province has reported 2.88 billion yuan (US$421.88 million) in economic losses triggered by the drought.
China's State Commission of Disaster Relief has said severe drought has affected 51 million Chinese and left more than 16 million people and 11 million livestock with drinking water shortages.
Since autumn last year, southwest China, including Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou provinces, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chongqing City, has received only half its annual average rainfall.
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