China allocates $1.2b for disaster victims

The central government announced on Tuesday it will allocate 7.3 billion yuan ($1.2 billion), a year-on-year rise of about 7 percent, to help residents affected by natural disasters in the winter.

Local governments should also increase financial and material investment to guarantee the safety and wellbeing of the disaster-affected population, urged Jiang Li, vice-minister of civil affairs, at a videoconference with the civil affairs and financial department.

In November, natural disasters claimed 24 lives, left four people missing and destroyed 7,000 homes, according to Jiang's ministry.

During the same period, five major earthquakes hit China, damaging more than 200,000 houses.

Also in November, Typhoon Haiyan swept through three provinces and regions, affecting the livelihoods of 4.2 million people.