Ministry accelerates winter assistance efforts for vulnerable populations

China has channeled efforts to assist people with living difficulties, especially the vagrants and homeless, to let them get through the cold winter and the approaching Spring Festival — falling in late January, with warmth and a sense of safety.

According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, authorities at all levels have been urged to visit residents facing living or financial challenges and accelerate the review process for subsidy applications from individuals experiencing severe economic hardships, such as people with disability, older adults, or minors without custodians.

The ministry has tightened the evaluation and monitoring of people qualifying to receive the government's basic living allowance to give them timely assistance.

The ministry has also emphasized providing assistance to vagrants and homeless people who face the most challenging living conditions in cold winters, as well as individuals temporarily stranded due to accidents or emergencies.

"We've closely worked with meteorological departments to prepare temporary shelters for the vagrants and homeless this winter and set up some temporary assistance stands in densely populated areas to offer them help. Some local authorities have also used high-tech tools like drones or infrared thermal imagers to help spot stranded people," said Zheng Zhende, an official from the civil affairs ministry.

According to the ministry, approximately 103,000 people experiencing temporary difficulties have received aid from civil affairs authorities at all levels this winter. Across the nation, around 11,000 temporary shelters and assistance stations have been established during this winter season, providing over 130,000 items of clothing, food, and other essential supplies to those in need, helping them combat the cold weather.