Summary

The present report on the Central Emergency Response Fund is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 63/139 of 11 December 2008 and covers activities from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009.

BEIJING, May 11 (Xinhua) - The Information Office of the State Council, or China's cabinet, published a white paper titled "China's Actions for Disaster Prevention and Reduction" Monday. Following is the full text:

China's Actions for Disaster Prevention and Reduction

Information Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China

Contents

Foreword

I. Natural Disasters in China

II. Strategic Goals and Tasks for Disaster Reduction

In brief

Programme purpose: The support to the Viet Nam Red Cross (VNRC) focuses on three main areas:

- Strengthen the VNRC's capacity to continue implementation of sustainable initiatives that reduce losses and effects from disasters.

- VNRC delivers quality health and care programmes and services that address the needs of vulnerable people in Viet Nam.

- VNRC is a strong, relevant and well-functioning national society that is more effective at all levels, thus providing better

Van Anh

The International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross Red Crescent response to emergencies. The DREF is a vital part of the International Federation's disaster response system and increases the ability of national societies to respond to disasters.

Summary: CHF 200,000 (USD 182,335 or EUR 124,057) was allocated from the International Federation's Disaster

Programme purpose: To coordinate and support International Federation (i.e. secretariat and partner national societies) efforts to assist host national societies to scale up their work in line with the Global Agenda.

Summary: The Southeast Asia team based in Bangkok has:

- Strategically supported and guided country office teams (Cambodia, Myanmar, Philippines, Timor- Leste, Thailand, and Viet Nam);

- Provided technical support to national societies with no secretariat country presence;

- Strengthened institutional memory and

This 2009-10 support plan inherits the approaches from the planning for 2008-2009 but scales down some activities so that they are more aligned with the pace of development of the organizational and personnel capacity of Vietnam Red Cross (VNRC) to implement this programme along with other initiatives of in-country partners as well as other national society priorities.

Activities around disaster planning, organizational preparedness, community preparedness, disaster response, avian influenza preparedness and awareness raising, community-based first

The People's Republic of China, with a population of 1.3 billion people, is by far the most populous country in the world, and has both one of the most dynamic and fastest growing economies, while at the same time very marked disparities in income distribution, health status and other vulnerability indicators. While many view China's hosting of the 2008 Olympics as a sign of its emergence onto the international scene, the people of China still continue to face many economic, environmental and health challenges that threaten their wellbeing. Extreme poverty remains