Million of Chinese have been affected by drought in north China
this year and 59 people have been killed by floods in the southern
regions.
The lasting drought in north China has resulted in a shortage of
drinking water for 9.49 million people, said E Jingping, secretary
general of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters
and also vice minister of water resources.
The drought has affected 12.1 million hectares of farmland
mainly in the northern and northeastern areas.
The drinking water shortage has also affected 8.7 million
livestock, the official said.
In late April when the drought was most serious, it threatened
supplies of drinking water to more than 14 million Chinese and
affected 16.3 million hectares of farmland. It eased in the middle
of May after rain fell across China, except in the northern and
northeastern areas.
Meanwhile, the nation has been stricken by floods mainly in
southern parts that have claimed 59 lives and affected 19 million
people so far this year, E Jingping said.
Another 11 people remained missing and 71,000 houses have been
destroyed in the floods, while direct economic losses are reported
to be more than 13.097 billion yuan (about US$1.64 billion). One
million hectares of farmland have been affected.
The worst-hit provinces are Guangdong in south China, Fujian and Jiangxi in east China, and Hunan and Hubei in central China, he said.
(Xinhua News Agency June 2, 2006)