China appeals for tents as quake death toll passes 50,000

China on Thursday made a global appeal for millions of tents to shelter survivors of the Sichuan earthquake as the official death toll rose to 51,151, AFP reported. The new death toll jumped by nearly 10,000 from the day before and the final toll could be much higher, as there are still 29,328 missing. Premier Wen Jiabao was quoted as saying, "The focus of relief work has shifted from rescuing lives to rehabilitating quake victims and local society." Underscoring this point, state television on Thursday showed President Hu Jintao touring tent factories while urging workers to boost production. Foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters in Beijing that China needs 3.3 million tents or other portable shelters, but had received only 150,000 so far.