Five provinces and autonomous regions hit by prolonged drought since autumn last year had received cash donations of more than 1.1 billion yuan (163 million U.S. dollars) as of April 9, said a statement issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs on Friday.

Relief materials, including drinking water, medicine and food, worth about 76 million yuan (11 million U.S. dollars), were also sent to the drought-affected Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangxi and Chongqing, the statement said.

The donations were collected by governments at all levels, as well as Red Cross organizations and charity groups, the statement said.

As of April 9, the drought had affected 25.39 million people and 18.08 million livestock, as well as 122 million mu (8.13 million hectares) of arable land.