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)