Taiwan expresses concern

Lien Chan, honorary chairman of the Chinese Nationalist Party, the Kuomintang, yesterday sent a letter to President Hu Jintao yesterday expressing his concern for the victims of Monday's earthquake.

He pledged Taiwan's support for disaster-relief work in the affected areas.

On Monday evening, Taiwan's incoming leader Ma Ying-jeou called on the island's authorities and civil organizations to provide goods and send relief teams, local media said.

He also asked local fire control departments and Red Cross organizations to aid the relief effort, local authorities said.

Yok Mu-ming, president of Taiwan's New Party, also yesterday sent a letter to the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council expressing his concern for the quake victims.

Close inspection ordered

The Communist Party of China's disciplinary commission has ordered officials at all levels to step up the monitoring and inspection of disaster relief work in quake-hit regions.

Inspectors should ensure local authorities are fully implementing central government disaster relief policies, a circular issued yesterday by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said.

The commission and the Ministry of Supervision have ordered officials to properly perform their duties and take effective measures to restore transport links, electricity and water supplies, and communications.

Expert team dispatched

The Ministry of Environmental Protection said yesterday it has sent a 21-member team of experts to Sichuan to assess nuclear and water pollution risks and direct relief work.

Led by Vice-Minister Li Ganjie, the team includes staff of the ministry's bureau of environmental supervision and the department of nuclear safety management.

Increased security effort

The Ministry of Public Security yesterday issued an urgent notice demanding all security personnel work to protect the safety of the people and their property to maintain national stability.

Its firefighting bureau has mobilized 1,120 personnel and 30 sniffer dogs from 12 provinces to quake-hit areas, Yan Hongbing, a firefighting official in Sichuan, said.

Production halted

The State Administration of Work Safety yesterday urged its local branches to ensure production safety in earthquake-stricken areas and prevent serious industrial accidents.

"Firms that have been affected by the quake should immediately stop production and evacuate their staff," a circular said. Production should not resume until the situation has been stabilized, it said.

Water team arrives

Vice-Minister of Water Resources Jiao Yong arrived in Sichuan yesterday with his six-man team. Fore more relief groups set off later in the day.

They teams will head to Chongqing, Yunnan, Gansu and Shaanxi and will work to prevent dams that were damaged by the quake from bursting and endangering lives.

Firms help fight disease

The Ministry of Agriculture yesterday organized more than 20 disinfectant, medical apparatus and vaccine drug producers to provide help in quake-stricken areas. It has also published leaflets on how to prevent the outbreak of post-earthquake infections among animals is giving them to residents in affected areas.

Safety departments readied

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine issued an urgent notice on Monday, demanding its branches mobilize all available manpower and financial resources to the relief work. Departments were also told to take measures to ensure the safety of food and essential equipment.

Rescue experts en route

A team of 1,000 rescue and relief experts is en route to Sichuan, the China Seismological Bureau said yesterday.

Two other teams were dispatched on Monday, the bureau said. The teams include seismologists, medical workers and soldiers trained in disaster relief.

Protection for relics

The State Administration of Cultural heritage issued a notice on Monday requiring its departments to take all necessary measures to protect cultural relics. Yesterday, the administration convened a meeting to agree measures for the protection of cultural heritage.

Funds for ethnic victims

The State Ethnic Affairs Commission decided yesterday granted 2 million yuan ($285,000) to its provincial branch in Sichuan for disaster-relief work. The funds will be used with a special focus on aiding ethnic minorities affected by the quake.

China Daily-Agencies

(China Daily 05/14/2008 page5)