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China: Quake Relief in Action - 18 Apr 2010

4,600 tonnes of grain allocated for quake zone

XINING, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The central government has earmarked 4,600 tonnes of grain for the quake-hit Yushu region in northwest China's Qinghai Province, local authorities confirmed Sunday.

The donated grain includes 3,680 tonnes of wheat flour and 920 tonnes of rice, said a spokesman for Qinghai provincial development and reform commission.

According to the spokesman, the relief grain will be allotted to quake victims in Yushu free of charge according a standard of 0.5 kilograms per person daily for three months.

A 7.1-magnitude quake struck the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu early Wednesday. At least 1,706 were killed and 12,128 injured, according to Sunday's latest official tally.

The devastating earthquake affected about 100,000 people in a 30,000 square kilometer area, the China Earthquake Administration said Sunday.

Made of wood and mud, most houses in the area collapsed or are on the verge of collapse.

Food, drinking water and weather-proof tents, quilts and coats are all in short supply, local officials said.

Editor: yan

China's quake-hit province receives 375 million yuan in donations

XINING, April 18 (Xinhua) -- China's quake-hit Qinghai Province has received 375 million yuan (54.9 million U.S. dollars) in donations since a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the region Wednesday, the provincial bureau of finance said Sunday.

The province has also received donated goods and supplies worth 61.18 million yuan.

All donations have been transferred to a special account for quake relief.

The figures included donations received through all charity channels, including government departments of finance and civil affairs, as well as charity institutions like the Qinghai Red Cross.

Editor: Yang Lina

Large-scale disinfection starts in China's quake zone

YUSHU, Qinghai, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese disease-control experts joined with armed corps Sunday to begin large-scale disinfection of the debris and ruins of quake-hit Yushu County in northwest China's Qinghai Province.

The disinfection aims to prevent water pollution, marmot plagues and outbreaks of respiratory and intestinal diseases in the wake of the disaster, local authorities said.

"The 7.1-magnitude earthquake increased the chance of a pneumonic plague outbreak spread by marmots," said Jie Xuehui, a provincial official overseeing public health.

Organized by the provincial agriculture and animal husbandry departments, six teams will work to prevent animal epidemics and assist with the disinfection work.

The quarantine team consists of 40 staff from provincial animal disease control departments, veterinarian and hygiene-monitoring authorities, and 70 college students from institutions affiliated to the departments.

Editor: Lin Zhi