The State Council issued a revised national emergency plan for natural disasters, as the emergency plan for natural disasters released on March 10, 2016, was annulled, according to a State Council circular issued on Feb 4.

The plan aims to establish and refine the natural disaster relief system and working mechanism, and strengthen efforts to make the disaster relief work law-based, standardized and modernized.

In addition, it will help enhance the government’s competence in disaster prevention, reduction and relief, minimize casualties and property losses, ensure people’s basic livelihoods, and guarantee social stability in disaster-stricken areas.

According to the circular, the plan is applicable to all State-level disaster relief work when any major or catastrophic natural disaster occurs within China’s boundaries.

The National Commission for Disaster Reduction will take charge of the general emergency response and relief work, and coordinate the relief work of major or catastrophic natural disasters, the circular said.

It also said that according to the severity of the disaster and demand for relief work, national emergency response for disaster relief can be classified into four categories.

Moreover, post-disaster relief work was stressed, including living assistance in the transitional period, restoration and reconstruction of damaged buildings, and relief assistance in the winter following the disaster and into the next spring.

More safeguard measures will be taken to ensure that relief work will have enough funds, materials, human resources, as well as communication and information security.