China has allocated 564 million yuan (US$75.2 million) to 13 drought-stricken provinces as temporary subsidies for needy people, a spokesman with the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) said on Friday.

The MCA and the Ministry of Finance have allocated the funds to Hebei, Shanxi, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hainan, Shaanxi, Gansu and Qinghai provinces, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The areas have suffered drought to different extent, causing difficulties in the supply of drinking water, food and fuel for local people in these areas.

The two ministries also earmarked 80 million yuan to Fujian, Shandong and Guizhou provinces to help rebuild houses collapsed in various types of natural disasters.

(Xinhua News Agency September 8, 2007)