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January 30, 2011

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Drought persists across China

DROUGHT continues to plague many parts of China, with tens of thousands suffering water shortages and millions of others affected.

Since October, little rain has fallen in several provinces including Shandong, Hebei, Henan, Anhui, Shanxi and Jiangsu.

In Hebei, 370,000 residents have difficulty getting drinking water while another 9 million are affected in other ways, the provincial Civil Affairs Department said.

Direct economic losses total 1.04 billion yuan (US$158 million).

The province has received only 2 millimeters of rain since November, which is 80 percent less than normal.

In wheat-growing Shandong, the snow that fell on Friday was too little to affect the drought's grip. Authorities raised the drought disaster alert to its highest level on Thursday.

The State Council, China's Cabinet, allocated 2.2 billion yuan for farm irrigation and drought-relief equipment and supplies on Thursday.

China has earmarked 4 billion yuan to ensure drinking water supply and water conservation projects in drought-hit regions.



 

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