China to resettle 45,000 mudslide-affected people

BEIJING - The Chinese government has chalked out a three-stage resettlement programme for the thousands of people affected in rain-triggered mudslides in Gansu province that left at least 702 dead while over 1,000 people are still missing.

Over 45,000 people have been affected in the landslides that occurred at midnight Sunday in Zhouqu county in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Zhouqu covers 3,010 sq km and has a population of 134,700, about 33 percent of which are Tibetans.

The first stage is resettling the affected people in temporary shelters, while the second stage is the stop-gap resettlement of people in houses of relatives, friends and neighbours as well as in houses provided by the government. The third stage would be reconstruction and moving of people into their new homes, the ministry of civil affairs was quoted as saying in a statement by People’s Daily.

The ministry of finance has allocated 500 million yuan ($73 million) to fund the relief efforts.

Efforts should be made to finish reconstruction of toppled houses in Zhouqu county before winter sets in, or no later than June 2011, the statement said.

The ministry has sent 7,000 tents, 21,400 quilts, 5,000 folding beds and 5,000 sleeping bags to Zhouqu. Along with the shelter supplies, instant noodles, drinking water, generators, candles and flashlights have also arrived in the county.

The ministry, however, said the supplies for the mudslide-affected people are to be properly handled.

Over 10,000 radios and 5,000 television sets and satellite antennae have also been sent to the affected area to make sure that local people know the latest information concerning rescue and relief efforts.

The Red Cross Society of China has also offered relief materials worth six million yuan ($886,000), and has asked the public to donate more.

The Chinese cabinet, meanwhile, urged people other than relief workers not to go to the disaster-hit region so as not to hamper rescue efforts.