By 6 PM on Wednesday, Chinese citizens had donated almost 1
billion yuan (US$143 million) in cash and relief supplies to snow
disaster areas, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said here on
Thursday.
Of the total, 76.81 million yuan was collected by the ministry
itself, 136 million yuan was received by the Red Cross Society of
China and 44.1 million yuan came from the China Charity
Federation.
The seven worst-hit provinces and regions, such as Hunan
Province, have been given donations worth 724 million yuan.
Additionally, many high-tech enterprises have contributed.
Computer giants Lenovo and Founder, for example, donated 3 million
yuan and 2 million yuan, respectively.
After almost a month of pounding the central and southern
regions of the country, the weather cleared just in time for
Thursday's Lunar New Year holiday, the most important Chinese
holiday.
(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2008)
