Another two major challenges included restoring a normal life for the quake-affected people and reconstruction in the quake-hit zone, he said, stressing more assistance was needed for the employment of quake survivors.

Hui laid out the priorities of the quake-relief work in the coming days.

More efforts will be made to transfer living commodities and pharmacies to ensure adequate supply in the region, and more temporary shelters, including tents and movable houses, will be delivered and built.

Reconstruction of the collapsed buildings should be "scientific" and "safe," he said, emphasizing the economic use of land resources and farmland be protected in the process of rebuilding.

Medical staff should spare no effort to rescue the injured, and relevant departments should beef up sterilizing measures to prevent epidemics outbreak.

Hui, at the same time, called for more efforts to repair blocked roads, restore telecom and ensure water and power supplies.

Further efforts should be made to prevent secondary disasters and accidents, he said, stressing reservoirs needed to be reinforced to avoid flooding.

He also championed assistance for production recovery.

Effective measures should be taken to help quake survivors to get involved in the reconstruction work so as to increase their income, Hui said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2008)