According to Liu Jiayi, the auditor general of the National Audit Office of China (CNAO), official auditing organs will be involved in auditing relief funds and supplies and they will follow the tracks every step of the way.

This newly appointed auditor general required all auditors under his jurisdiction to break previously established patterns of work during the process. He announced that auditing results should be regularly made public.

Since the Wenchuan earthquake, central and local governments at all levels have been distributing massive disaster relief funds. People from all walks of life at home and abroad have also been donating money and supplies. Many of these people are quite concerned with how these resources will be managed and distributed.

Liu pointed out that official auditing is being carried out in order to ensure the effective deployment of all relief funds and supplies. This also promotes the establishment of a sound internal management system for future relief funds and supplies. Finally, audits such as these will guarantee that funds will be distributed in a timely and proper fashion to victims in disaster areas, he said.

He reminded audit officials to pay close attention to their behaviors and not to interfere in the normal operation of the units being audited. Regarding any emerging problems, the auditors have been urged to dig out the facts and monitor their own work quality.

As of 12 a.m. on May 21, China has received domestic and foreign donations totaling 16 billion yuan, among which 9.985 billion yuan has already been deposited into official accounts. As of 2:00 p.m. on that same day, governments at all levels have distributed earthquake relief funds totaling 12.867 billion yuan. In addition, a large number of relief supplies such as tents, quilts and clothes, have also been received and allocated to the needy.

(China.org.cn May 22, 2008)