Train volunteers to help in relief work

No one would deny that the work of volunteers, especially those engaged in rescue and relief missions at disaster sites, is important and deserves our utmost respect. From the Wenchuan and Ya'an earthquakes in Sichuan province in 2008 and 2013 to the Ludian quake in Yunnan province a few days ago, hundreds of thousands of volunteers have helped in rescue, relief and reconstruction work, making a world of difference to the lives of survivors and victims' relatives. They have helped dig people out of debris, reach relief materials to survivors, offer treatment to the injured, and provide counseling to people who lost their loved ones or were left disabled. They also have contributed in various ways to post-quake reconstruction.

Their courage and altruism testify to the willingness and capability of the Chinese people to build a modern civil society.

But volunteers, on the whole, are a young group in China. The number of volunteers, especially those engaged in disaster relief, had been small before the 2008 Wenchuan quake. Since many of the volunteers have still not received formal training, they lack the proper knowledge and skills to help in rescue work.