The Chinese People's Armed Police Force (PAPF) have deployed more than 200,000 armed police in disaster relief to fight against disasters caused by heavy snow.

The heavy snow, which has not been seen in many places for a decade, hit most parts of the country since Jan. 12, leaving houses collapsed, power supply cut off, highway transportation suspended and crops destroyed.

In a circular issued lately, the Headquarters of the PAPF, required troops stationed around the country to keep a close eye on the weather and take effective measures to mitigate damage from the disasters.

On January 18 when Sichuan-Tibet Highway and Xinjiang-Tibet Highway were hit by heavy snow, armed policemen helped evacuate 97 civilians and 18 vehicles.

In cities including Beijing and Shanghai as well as the eastern province of Shandong, about 5,000 armed policemen have been dispatched each day to keep order and combat crimes as the country entered the peak transportation season of the traditional Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 7.

According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the central government allocated 1.75 billion yuan (about 240 million U.S. dollars) on Tuesday to disaster-ravaged areas to guarantee the basic livelihood for the people effected.

(Xinhua News Agency January 24, 2008)