Civil affairs ministry orders safety campaign

BEIJING - Social welfare and public institutes under the country's civil affairs system are to launch a large-scale campaign to check for fire, food safety and transportation risks.

In a statement released Tuesday by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the campaign will target nursing homes, apartments for the elderly, schools, public cemeteries, funeral homes and other organizations under the supervision of civil affairs departments.

Vice Minister Dou Yupei urged focus on social welfare institutes that provide catering and accommodation to a large number of people.

Dou stressed that funeral homes and public cemeteries should especially strengthen fire control management over fireworks and the burning of paper money, while rules on storage should be strictly followed.

According to Dou, the ministry will send special teams to oversee the results of the campaign.