The population was registered during China's tenth five-year plan period(2001-2005), when more than 10 million houses tumbled in numerous natural calamities, incurring a direct economic loss of 910.8 billion yuan(113.85 U.S. dollars), according to Li Liguo, vice minister of civil affairs.

China suffered frequent natural adversities in recent years, including drought, flooding, earthquake and landslide, said Li at a national disaster-relief working conference which opened Tuesdayin this southwestern municipality.

The official noted that the central and local governments have jointly earmarked nearly 30 billion yuan(3.75 billion U.S. dollars) in relief funds to the disaster-ridden regions, helping more than 400 million residents.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs and its organs across the country received public financial and material donations worth 11.86 billion yuan(nearly 1.5 billion U.S. dollars) in the past five years, and 150 million people have benefited from the social relief campaign, according to Li.

He said China has basically established an emergency relief mechanism in the past five years which has proved viable in dealing with natural disasters and their aftermath. Enditem