China's emergency, finance ministries launch 2026-2027 winter relief for disaster victims
In short
China's Ministry of Emergency Management and Ministry of Finance have issued a notice organising nationwide winter-spring relief work for disaster-affected people for 2026-2027, instructing local authorities to identify everyone in need and ensure all relief funds and goods reach them before the Spring Festival. The notice says this year's natural disasters have been complex and severe, with many provinces hit, some areas struck repeatedly and heavy losses.
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China's Ministry of Emergency Management and Ministry of Finance have recently issued a Notice on Organising 2026-2027 Nationwide Winter-Spring Relief Work for Disaster-Affected People, directing local authorities to survey everyone needing help, refine relief measures and safeguard the basic livelihoods of people hit by disasters, China News Service reported, citing the Ministry of Emergency Management website. The ministries said natural disasters this year have been complex and severe, with many provinces affected, pronounced extreme events, and some areas hit repeatedly with heavy losses. [ 1 , 2 ]
The notice describes winter-spring relief as an important measure to ease people's worries and calls on local governments to treat ensuring that disaster victims get through the winter safely and warmly as an important political task. It tells them to deploy surveys early, refine work plans, mobilise publicity and gain a full picture of relief needs. [ 1 , 2 ]
Relief targets are to be determined precisely, with all people facing temporary livelihood difficulties because of disasters included so that no household or person is left out. Following the principle of 'categorised, focused and precise relief', the notice calls for tiered relief standards, priority help for especially vulnerable groups among the affected, and coordination of winter-spring relief with minimum living allowance and temporary assistance policies. [ 1 , 2 ]
Local authorities must take primary responsibility, make coordinated use of central and local relief funds and goods, and follow up continuously so that everything is handed to disaster victims before the Spring Festival. The notice demands strict discipline in managing the funds and goods, acceptance of supervision, and an end to funds being withheld, misappropriated or left idle, while guarding against abuse of power for private gain and favouritism toward relatives and friends. It also asks officials to explain the policy and resolve victims' urgent difficulties to keep disaster areas calm and socially stable. [ 1 , 2 ]
Jiemian framed the notice as implementing Xi Jinping's instructions on disaster prevention, mitigation and relief and the Party Central Committee and State Council's decisions on guaranteeing victims' basic living and a warm winter. Yicai carried only a headline saying the two ministries had organised the relief work. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The notice sets a deadline of the Spring Festival for distributing central and local relief funds and goods to people left in temporary hardship by disasters, and warns against funds being withheld, misused or left idle. Coverage by an official outlet and two business outlets points to a routine but nationwide government relief programme.
Key facts
- The Ministry of Emergency Management and Ministry of Finance recently issued a notice on organising nationwide winter-spring relief work for disaster-affected people in 2026-2027. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The notice says natural disasters this year have been complex and severe, affecting many provinces, with some areas hit repeatedly and suffering heavy losses. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Local authorities are told to fully survey those in need and include all people facing temporary livelihood difficulties because of disasters, leaving no household or person out. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Relief is to follow the principle of 'categorised, focused and precise relief', with tiered standards and priority for especially vulnerable groups, and be coordinated with minimum living allowance and temporary assistance policies. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Central and local relief funds and goods must all be distributed to disaster victims before the Spring Festival. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The notice bans the withholding, misappropriation or idling of relief funds and warns against abuse of power and favouritism toward relatives and friends. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Ministry of Emergency Management and Ministry of Finance issued a notice organising nationwide 2026-2027 winter-spring relief for disaster-affected people. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- All relief funds and goods are to be distributed to disaster victims before the Spring Festival. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The notice calls ensuring that disaster victims get through the winter safely and warmly an important political task. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- The amount of central and local relief funding involved. No document gives figures for funds or goods or the number of people to be helped.
- Which provinces and disasters are covered. The documents say many provinces were affected and some areas hit repeatedly but name none.