The Chinese central government has decided to allocate further anti-drought subsidies of 170 million yuan (US$20.5 million) to the country's drought-stricken areas, sources with China's Ministry of Finance said Wednesday.

Since the beginning of this year, the central government has offered subsidies of 315 million yuan (US$38 million) to the drought-stricken areas which include 14 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions across the country. 

(Xinhua News Agency August 7, 2003)