The Sichuan province authorities say the earthquake death toll has now reached 55,239. More than 27 million people have been affected. But thanks to the support of the whole country and the world, relief and rescue work are well underway. And the authorities say that in three years, the quake-ravaged areas in the province will take on a new look.

Li Chengyun, vice governor of Sichuan

Li Chengyun, vice governor of Sichuan said that four officials in Dujiangyan were punished for neglecting their duties in disaster relief. He said that all those officials who failed to observe their duties will be punished.

The latest government figures show that the magnitude 8 earthquake has claimed 55,239 lives. 281,066 people were injured. And 24,944 people remain missing.

Across the province, the total area affected by the earthquake exceeds 100,000 square kilometers. Nearly 28 million people were affected.

Strong support from the central and local budgets is helping extend relief to even the remotest of the affected areas. So far the province has received more than 5.3 billion yuan to go toward special funding for the relief work. Road traffic telecommunication and power and water supplies in affected areas are gradually being restored. In the 8 worst-hit counties, including Wenchuan and Beichuan, highways are now opening for traffic now. Rescuers are racing against time to repair damaged roads in 33 remote towns. Telecommunication and electricity supplies are now back on in more than 90 percent of these counties. And authorities are paying special attention to ensure affected people have safe drinking water.

With the steady arrival of relief materials from around the country and abroad, the timely distribution of these much-needed goods to those people in urgent need is a big challenge. The province is mobilizing all possible means of transportation to deliver tents, quilts, medicines and other essentials via roads, waterways and airways. But the vice governor of Sichuan Province says more tents are needed.

Li Chengyun, Vice Governor of Sichuan Provincial Government said "The most urgently-needed relief materials at the moment are still tents and make-shift shelters. The State Council has held a special meeting to discuss this and called on the whole nation to provide Sichuan with tents and make-shift cottages. More than 5 million people are in need of shelters."

The vice governor said saving more lives remains a top priority in the rescue work. A man buried in the rubble for more than 200 hours was saved on Thursday, giving rescuers more hope to continue. But how to ensure the earthquake-affected people's basic living conditions remains a huge challenge. The government is providing the affected people with a daily allowance of 10 yuan at the moment. For newly orphaned children, the elderly and disabled who are deprived of their families, the government is subsidizing them with 300 yuan for the first 3 months after the earthquake. The provincial government has promised to provide safe temporary housing for more than 98 percent of quake-affected people. Prevention of infectious diseases is also an urgent task. Medical teams are going all out to disinfect the affected areas and keeping a constant vigilant watch for any signs of epidemics.

Despite the disaster, the vice governor said the morale of people in Sichuan remains high. He said, in three years time, the damaged infrastructure in affected areas will be fully restored. And new towns will be set up in these areas.

(CCTV May 23, 2008)