On Friday, Ministry of Civil Affairs said the social organizations have grown stronger in disaster rescue, yet still need the guide from the authorities to cooperate with the official forces and suggest not to rush to stricken regions without sufficient preparation.

The ministry released the first guideline on social organizations in rescue efforts on Oct 8. The document streamlines their tasks in different sections of rescue and cooperation with authorities highlighting the stronger support from governments on such social volunteer teams.

It suggests that non-governmental rescue force should not rush to disaster-stricken regions immediately, and individuals should join teams to provide related services instead of going alone. The government will play the leading role in coordinating forces from the authorities and society to make rescue efforts more efficient and effective.

Yang Xiaodong, deputy head of disaster relief department under the ministry said, "in 2008, there were less than 100 nationwide foundations focusing on rescue efforts. Only a few mountain-climbing or outdoors sports teams participated in rescue. The non-governmental rescue forces have grown stronger since the devastative 2008 earthquake in Wenchuan, Sichuan province. After the earthquakes hit Lushan of Sichuan province in 2013 and Ludian of Yunna province in 2014, several professional social teams have provided effective services in the rescue. Nowdays we are learning to perform more professionally in conducting rescue, organizing donation, distributing supplies and providing psychological comfort."

But some problems have been exposed in the increasing reports on volunteers in the rescue efforts. For example, some army rescue forces cannot reach the stricken mountainous regions due to the traffic congested roads, and the flooding volunteers are without efficient coordination.

"The coordination between the official and private rescue forces is not efficient, and have large room to improve. Besides, non-governmental rescue forces have restricted power in rescue, with the focus on short-term rescue after disasters, while few lasting participation into the post-disaster reconstruction projects." said Yang.

The ministry will improve related regulations to guide their growth and build a united database to record such non-governmental rescue forces while coordinating the growing forces to make better use of their abilities.

 

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