The first batch of 18,000 much-needed relief items arrived in north China's flood-hit Hebei Province by Tuesday morning, with local authorities coordinating the distribution process in an orderly manner.
The urgently needed supplies, including cotton coats, folding beds, and blankets, were allocated by the Hebei Provincial Emergency Management Department and the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.
In Fuping County of Hebei's Baoding City, emergency workers at a temporary relief supplies warehouse were rushing to unload the supplies to ensure they could be delivered to the affected areas as soon as possible.
"We submitted a request to the provincial emergency department for 4,000 quilts, folding beds, and other supplies. The delivery arrived in less than 20 hours -- remarkably fast," said Fu Da, Deputy Director of the Fuping County Emergency Management Bureau.
At 13:00, staff members of the emergency management bureau began distributing relief supplies to 13 townships, where the relief items would then be transported to the local resettlement sites.
By 15:00, a temporary shelter in Fangtaikou Village had received the supplies, and relocated villagers immediately put on new bedding.
"The mattress is soft and comfortable, and with the blanket, it's both cozy and cool," said Luo Junping, a villager.
Torrential rains have wreaked havoc across northern China, forcing evacuations, and leaving eight people dead in Hebei Province.
First batch of 18,000 relief items allocated in flood-hit Hebei
South China's Guangdong Province is promoting bird-friendly netting in agricultural fields to protect migratory birds while safeguarding farmers' livelihoods.
Since the beginning of this month, nearly 130,000 migratory birds have arrived in Guangdong, using the region's farmlands, orchards, and fishponds as natural feeding grounds.
This has led to significant crop damage for local farmers.
"Sometimes, over 100 birds descend on our fields. They completely ruin the vegetable leaves, making them unfit for human consumption," said Zhong Jinchuan, a farmer from Huidong County in the province's Huizhou City.
As it is the peak season for winter vegetable planting, many farmers have erected simple anti-bird netting in their fields to protect their crops. However, these nets often pose serious risks to wildlife.
"Once erected, birds could only see the poles. The netting itself isn't always easily visible. If birds fly into it, their claws, feathers, and beaks can become entangled, causing them serious injury," said Li Yi, an official with the Forestry Bureau of Huizhou City.
Recognizing the challenge, local authorities have replaced these harmful nets with safe, bird-friendly alternatives. These new nets feature thicker cords and smaller mesh sizes, which deter birds without trapping them.
"This net uses thicker cords and has smaller mesh openings, so when birds hit it, their feet don't get caught. They just bounce off and fly away. Our vegetables stay safe, and the birds aren't harmed either," said Zhong.
Guangdong has also introduced policies to compensate farmers for crop losses caused by protected wildlife, including migratory birds.
Guangdong promotes bird-friendly netting to protect migratory birds, farm fields
