China's Ministry of Civil Affairs issued an annual report on the development of civil affairs Thursday. Following were key facts and figures in the report.
-- In 2008, 88,928 people were killed or missing in natural disasters, including those killed in the 8.0-magnitude earthquake that jolted southwestern Sichuan Province in May.
The disasters caused direct economic losses of about 1,350 billion yuan (198 billion U.S. dollars), up 473.3 percent against the figure of 2007.
-- The minimum living standard guarantee program covered 2.33 million urban residents and 4.28 million rural residents by the end of 2008.
Under the program, about 38.52 billion yuan (5.58 billion U.S. dollars) were given to the urban poor, 40.2 percent more than the previous year, while 22.23 billion yuan (3.22 billion U.S. dollars) went to those in rural areas, doubling the 2007 figure.
-- As of the end of 2008, China registered 42,000 social welfare institutes, up 15.1 percent year-on-year.
These organizations served 1.89 million people including the homeless elderly, the disabled and orphans, a 15.8 percent increase.
The government also helped about 568,000 disabled people find jobs last year and aided 1.35 million homeless people.
-- Civil affairs departments of all levels received donations of 47 billion yuan (about 6 billion U.S. dollars) and 490 million garments.
-- By the end of 2008, the country provided medical aid to 5.13 million urban residents and 9.48 million rural residents.
Under the medical aid program, poor people would receive subsidies when they are sick and unable to afford to go to hospital.
About 2.35 billion yuan (340.58 million dollars) were spent on the urban poor, a year-on-year rise of 88 percent. About 3.58 billion yuan (518.84 million dollars) went to the rural needy, up 52.3 percent over 2007.
-- The government spent 171.23 billion yuan (24.82 billion dollars) in civil affairs work, up 62.6 percent over 2007, which did not include the operating expenses of related departments.
-- In 2008, the civil affair departments registered 10.5 million marriages and 1.55 million divorces (excluding divorces sanctioned by the courts of law), both 10.6 percent up year-on-year.
(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2009)