The Communist Party of China (CPC) discipline watchdog has dispatched two inspection teams to ensure the proper use of relief funds and materials for the areas affected by the May 12 earthquake.

A team headed by Ma Wen, deputy secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and Supervision Minister, arrived in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province on Saturday.

It will stay in Sichuan to supervise local governments and investigate the management and use of relief funds and materials.

Another team headed by Vice Supervision Minister Wang Wei had begun an inspection of the Red Cross Society of China and the China Charity Federation Friday. It will also carry out inspections of organizations and central government departments that received donations.

He Yong, deputy secretary of the CCDI, said they should strictly carry out inspections to ensure relief materials used most efficiently to help affected people.

Individuals or organizations found misusing relief money and materials should be severely punished, he said.

The government disaster relief fund for China's quake-stricken areas had exceeded 23.07 billion yuan (US$ 3.32 billion) as of noon on Tuesday, and donations from home and abroad had reached 42.36 billion yuan, according to the Information Office of the State Council.

Relief supplies, including 749,200 tents, 4.42 million quilts, 11.7 million items of clothing, 676,600 tons of fuel oil and 1.42 million tons of coal had been sent to the quake zone as of Tuesday noon.

(Xinhua News Agency June 4, 2008)