Wen speaks on rehabilitation in quake-hit areas

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-16 21:13

BEIJING -- The successful earthquake relief efforts fully proved, once again, the superiority of the socialist system, the governing capacity of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the government, the abilities of the People's Liberation Army, and the strength of the Chinese nation.

Premier Wen Jiabao made these comments at a meeting on quake rehabilitation in Sichuan Province, southwest China, early this month.

The promotion of rehabilitation and economic and social development in areas devastated by the May 12 earthquake are an "arduous and responsible task" with "far-reaching importance," said Wen, who is also member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau.

He called for closely uniting around the CPC Central Committee with Hu Jintao as the general secretary to achieve new victories in the rebuilding efforts.

In his lengthy speech, Wen recalled the quake relief efforts since May 12, when an 8.0-magnitude tremor shook Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces, leaving more than 80,000 dead and missing and millions homeless.

China had achieved a major victory in quake relief and minimized losses from the disaster, Wen said.

According to the premier, rescuers dug out 84,000 survivors from the ruins, moved more than 1.486 million people to safer places and gave medical treatment to 2.96 million injured people.

Another 96,000 were sent to hospitals, of whom more than 92,000 were treated and discharged.

The government has provided financial aid to 10.584 million people who had financial problems due to the quake, including 286,000 orphans, elderly and handicapped people living alone.

It had resettled 15.1 million people whose houses were damaged or whose neighborhoods became dangerous due to the earthquake.

In the first three months after the quake, the government distributed 500 grams of grain and 10 yuan (about 1.47 US dollars) for every quake survivor every day in financial difficulty.

In the next three months, the government will continue financial aid to these people, including 200 yuan per person and 600 yuan for those living alone every month.

The government will also pay 5,000 yuan to the families of the deceased. The government has tried various means to provide temporary housing for survivors, ensure local schools reopen on time and safeguard stability in the quake areas, according to the premier.

Meanwhile, most of the infrastructure in the area has been repaired and restored to normal operation, including all major railways, 90 percent of the power transmission lines, all public telecommunications services, the majority of local radio and TV networks, local water conservation facilities, and 97 percent of water plants and water-supply pipelines, which had ensured the supply of drinking water.

Strenuous efforts were made to prevent or minimize geological disasters caused by the quake, such as the successful treatment of "quake lakes". Wen said the government had set up a quake rehabilitation fund.

The premier went on to say that China had entered the rehabilitation phase in the quake areas, and the CPC Central Committee and the State Council had made comprehensive arrangements for rehabilitation.

The general plan for rehabilitation will soon be implemented, said Wen, who called for determination to win the hard battle of rehabilitation.

Previous page 1 2 Next Page