BEIJING –The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today announced a new partnership with HNA Group – a leading China-based corporation - to fight hunger globally.

A US$1.6 million agreement (10 million RMB) between HNA Group and WFP was signed today in Beijing by WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin and HNA Group Chairman Chen Feng. The funds will help WFP provide take-home rations to promote girls’ education under its school meals programme in Ghana.

Situation Update

Since early May, some provinces in central and southern part of China have been affected by wind storm, hail and flooding. The worst hit provinces are Guangdong and Hunan. The National Ministry of Civil Affairs has activated the national emergency response at Level 4.

Bangkok, 20th May 2013 – Habitat for Humanity China, part of international non-government housing organization Habitat for Humanity, today announced that it will support families in Qionglai city affected by the recent Sichuan earthquake. It will help them rebuild homes in Maping village in Tiantaishan town and Jingkou village in Gaohe town, as part of its ‘Sichuan Post-Earthquake Rebuilding Projects’.

NANNING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Continuous rainfall has claimed a life while affecting about 200,000 people in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, local authorities said on Sunday.

As of Saturday, the heavy rain, which started on Thursday, has battered 14 counties in Guangxi, said a statement from the regional department of civil affairs.

The weather has left 199,700 people affected and over 12,100 displaced in Guangxi, according to the statement.

(Extract)

Strong biosecurity measures needed to contain bird flu Implementing strong biosecurity measures coupled with good hygiene are required to contain the spread of the H7N9 strain of avian influenza virus, Hiroyuki Konuma, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific told a press conference in Bangkok on April 11. The virus had infected 82 people and killed 17 in China by April 19.

BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Thirty-three people have died and 12 others were reported missing in the latest round of rain- and hailstorms that have swept south China, the country's civil affairs and disaster reduction authorities said Thursday.

Since Tuesday, rainstorms have triggered flooding and landslides in some places, according to sources with the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the National Committee for Disaster Reduction.

On Monday 13 May, continuous rain and consequent floods have affected more than 3.47 million people in 204 counties and cities in 12 provincial-level regions.

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the provinces of Hunan and Guizhou are the most affected regions.

A total of 19 people reported dead, 187,000 are in urgent need of resettlement and assistance. The rain has toppled some 5,000 houses, damaged another 46,000 and destroyed 26,900 hectares of crops.

By NANG MYA NADI

State officials and political parties in northern Shan state are trying to convince residents to return to their villages after thousands of locals fled from their homes after fighting erupted between the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) and the military earlier this month.

Last week, approximately 2,000 locals from 19 villages fled as hundreds of Burmese soldiers launched an assault on a SSA-S position near the Sino-Burmese border. Many of the villagers reportedly crossed the border into China.

English.news.cn | 2013-05-12 19:02:16 | Editor: Tang Danlu

BEIJING, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese state councilor Wang Yong has called for an improvement of disaster relief and prevention capabilities to protect people's lives and properties in the country.

Wang made the comments at a National Committee for Disaster Reduction meeting on Sunday, which is also China's fifth Disaster Prevention and Reduction Day.