China's central state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have donated 19.5 million yuan (US$2.86 million) to drought-hit southwestern regions for disaster relief.

The sum comprised 10 million yuan allocated to Yunnan Province, while the remainder was distributed to Guizhou and Sichuan provinces, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chongqing Municipality, said a statement from the Chinese Red Cross Foundation, which channeled the fund.

Seventy percent of the money would be used to buy rice and drinking water, and the rest for building wells and reservoirs.

As of Thursday the drought had affected 25.95 million people and 18.44 million head of livestock, as well as 121 million mu (8.07 million hectares) of arable land, according to the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.