Comment on Relief Measures for the Disaster-Affected Areas of Fuping and Quyang in Hebei Province [1] (January 22, 1951) Zhou [2]: This request should be approved. Mao Zedong January 22 Printed from the manuscript. Notes [1] This comment was written on a report submitted on January 14, 1951, by Yang Xiufeng, Chairman of the People’s Government of Hebei Province, to the People’s Government of Hebei Province for onward transmission to the Government Administration Council of the Central People’s Government et al., concerning the disaster situation in Fuping and Quyang counties and proposed solutions. The report states: The mountainous regions of Fuping and Quyang in Hebei have suffered severe damage this year from hailstorms, floods, strong winds, and insect infestations, leaving the people in extremely difficult circumstances, particularly in Fuping. Historically, residents of these mountainous areas have always struggled with clothing; after disasters, their cotton garments are often tattered and there is a severe shortage of quilts. Many disaster victims are left with little more than thin padding, unable to venture out to work in the freezing cold. Both Fuping County and the mountainous areas of Quyang are part of the old revolutionary base areas, where North China organs were long stationed, and the local population has a deep, blood-tied relationship with our forces. The amount of winter clothing previously allocated to our province by the central authorities represents only a small proportion of the total donations received. Could an additional tens of thousands of sets of quilts and winter clothing be provided? Meanwhile, the farmland and riverbeds in Fuping and Quyang have been washed away and buried under sand, and animal husbandry has fallen far short of pre-war levels. Unless we begin to implement long-term measures to restore production and carry out afforestation in these mountainous areas, it will be very difficult to alleviate the hardships faced there. Therefore, it is indeed necessary to provide annual loans to support agricultural production. Specifically for Fuping and Quyang counties, this year a loan of 1.5 million jin of rice should be granted; according to estimates, if the entire mountainous region of the province were to receive production loans totaling 20 million jin of rice, much could be accomplished. If this continues for three to five years, significant results could be achieved, and it would not cost much more than providing annual relief aid.