The Communist Party of China (CPC) has set up branches in quake-battered areas to help with relief work.
In a major settlement in Qingchuan County where 4,663 people died in the May 12 earthquake, a table, a telephone on the ground and five CPC members are the temporary Party branch for more than 1,200 residents of 80 tents.
"Although we have no Party flag or office, we surely play an important role in easing people's minds, maintaining social order and leading the work of epidemic prevention," said Wang Shoulun, head of the tiny branch.
There are more than 30 temporary Party branches in Qingchuan in the 50 settlements where 250,000 people live, according to the county government.
"Rumors have made our nerves tight. They told us rumors were rumors and we should believe in ourselves," said Wang Qiaoyun, a resident in the settlement, adding the organization was dependable and reliable.
In neighboring Mianzhu City, where more than 10,000 died in the quake, 20 similar Party branches have been set up in six settlements since May 17, five days after the disaster.
"Everyone is in a panic. It's time for us Communist members to stand out and help," said Cai Dehua, 45, former head of the municipal work safety administration and now head of the Party branch at the No. 2 Crossover settlement, the first such organization in the city.
More than 200 people in the settlement were watching a war film on the outdoor cinema on Wednesday evening. A group of children were watching cartoons from a big projection screen. Some were bathing in two bathrooms made of aluminum alloy sheet. Others gathered in front of three large-screen TVs.
"They truly listened to our suggestions and thoughts of what we need," said Gao Zhengxiu, 78, who lost all her family members aside from one daughter in the quake.
Her daughter found her in another settlement yesterday and moved here. They had nothing left after the quake. They then asked a man with a red armband displaying "CPC Service Team" and got daily necessities, including quilts, a basin and towels.
The organization department of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee has issued notifications to encourage all the settlements with more than three CPC members to set up a temporary Party branch.
Ministries, state-owned enterprises and local authorities have sent more than 28,000 CPC members to help with the quake relief work, the Information Office of the State Council said on Monday.
China had about 73.4 million CPC members as of June 2007 and 3.6 million Party branches.
Source: Xinhua
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