China
Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the "SCO Plus" meeting in the Kazakh capital city of Astana on Thursday, proposing designation of 2025 as the "Sustainable Development Year" for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Xi arrived in Astana on Tuesday to pay a state visit to Kazakhstan and attend the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO.
Xi attends "SCO Plus" meeting
Thousands of residents in Huarong County of central China's Hunan Province have been evacuated to four school campuses-turned makeshift shelters following a disastrous lake dike breach on Friday,
The breach caused torrents of water from the Dongting Lake to flood surrounding low-lying areas in Tuanzhou Township of the county, with nearly 48 square kilometers inundated.
Prompted by the breach, 5,755 residents were urgently evacuated to four school campuses within Huarong County, which now serve as makeshift shelters. Starting from Saturday morning, all evacuees were transferred to these campuses, which offer basic living conditions.
Among the makeshift shelters is Huarong Vocational Secondary School, the county's largest facility capable of accommodating over 3,000 residents. It operates with seven work groups and a team of over 120 volunteers rotating to provide essential services for the evacuees.
The procedures of registration and accommodation at the shelter have been streamlined, with volunteers assisting evacuees upon arrival, ensuring each of them receives basic necessities like bedding and bottled water.
Since midnight Saturday, Huarong Vocational Secondary School alone has accommodated over 900 evacuees.
Life has quickly returned to normal at the vocational school, with breakfast being served from 06:40 onwards to accommodate local farmers' early schedules. Additional food batches are planned throughout the day to cater to varying needs. Additional food and snacks are served throughout the day to meet people's need.
The campus facilities also provide medical care and psychological support, with essentials items such as mosquito repellent and hygiene products delivered directly to dormitories.
Thousands evacuated to school campuses after lake dike breach in central China county
