Frequent and severe natural disasters happening in China this
year have so far left 2,145 people dead and caused economic losses
of 188.6 billion yuan (US$22.7 billion).
Besides the severe flooding in the south and insect pest
problems in the north, about 30 earthquakes above five on Richter
Scale rocked China and rare droughts hit the northern, northeastern
and southwestern areas in summer. Fearful hailstorms, landslides
and mud-rock flows also caused severe casualties and economic
losses in some regions.
China is a country frequently hit by natural disasters, and in
recent years, with the surprisingly rapid growth of the economy,
the country's ecological environment is degrading, restricting its
capacity to withstand natural disasters.
"Along with the development of the national economy, losses
caused by natural catastrophes have been snowballing year after
year," said Minister of Civil Affairs Li Xueju.
Soil erosion, desertification, excessive use of water resources,
water pollution and the encroachment of foreign species are major
ecological problems worsening the situation, said Yang Chaofei,
director of the Natural and Ecological Protection Department of the
State Environmental
Protection Administration.
The utilization rate of water resources is at 60 percent for the
Huaihe River, 65 percent for the Liaohe River, 62 percent for the
Yellow River and as high as 90 percent for the Haihe River, all
surpassing the internationally accepted warning line of 30-40
percent.
As a result, the natural process of water purification in the
rivers is barely functioning, and the ecological environment along
the rivers will be damaged, according to Wang Shucheng, minister of
water resources.
China is now one of the world's worst sufferers of
weather-related disasters, which inflict direct economic losses
accounting for 3 percent to 6 percent of its whole Gross Domestic
Product, said Qin Dahe, director-general of the China Meteorological
Administration.
Higher temperatures have brought about numerous problems in
ecology, resources and environment, which include frequent dry
spells, tropical cyclones, a rapid rise in the number of rainstorms
and severe droughts, experts said.
China's annual Central Economic Conference, which was held last
month, focused on sustainable development as well as the balance
between human beings and nature, agreeing to give more financial
support to environmental protection.
The government this year has sent 51 relief work teams to 18
provinces that suffered disasters like earthquakes, floods,
droughts, landslides and mud-rock flows, and has given 3 billion
yuan (US$361 million) for relief funds and 122,000 tents for
shelters in disaster-hit areas, assuring supplies of food, drinking
water, and medical treatment, according to sources with the
Ministry of Civil Affairs.
(Xinhua News Agency December 24, 2003)