Press conference: China fights snow disaster

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Another priority is overcoming power shortages. Miners are working overtime and coal has priority on the rail network. Dock workers have also been asked to speed up loading of fuel for shipping to power stations in the stricken south.

Zhu Rongren, deputy director of Nat'l Development & Reform Commission, said, "The State Council has put into place a command center to coordinate the national efforts in terms of disaster relief and reduction. The Command Center have five major functions. 1st, it is responsible for collecting first hand information on the supply of coal, oil and electricity. 2nd, it is responsible for coordinating major issues across the various economic sectors and different governmental departments. 3rd, it gives instructions to local authorities to fully implement the government's policies and measures. 4th, It reports to the central leadership regarding the results of the consultations among the governmental departments. And finally, it puts in place an information release system to make information public in an official way. "

All the disaster related Ministries are working together to cope with the situation as best they can.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Finance have already allocated 193 million yuan to six provinces hardest hit by rain and snow to assist those affected.

Editor:Zhang Ning