Droughts Threaten Drinking Water Supply For 10 Million In China - AFP

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The situation has been worsening since mid-April and affected both areas in the north of the country and in Yunnan province in the southwest, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said.

A total of 16.6 million hectares (41 million acres) of cropland has been affected and 7.9 million head of livestock face a shortage of drinking water, the headquarters said, according to state-run Xinhua news agency.

The headquarters has ordered local governments to take "strong and effective" measures, while the finance ministry has earmarked 100 million yuan (12.5 million dollars) to combat the problem, Xinhua said.

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