Continuous drought leaves 4.28 mln people short of water

A lingering drought has caused a water shortage for 4.28 million people in China, the country's drought relief authority said Monday. Hot temperatures and lack of rainfall that have persisted since July have resulted in drought in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and the provinces of Gansu, Guizhou and Hunan, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said in a statement on its website. As of July 31, a total of 63.34 million mu (4.22 million hectares) of arable land had been affected by the drought, the statement said. Some 3.88 million heads of livestock suffered from water shortage, it added. The statement said Vice Premier Hui Liangyu has asked for more efforts to support relief work in the drought-hit southern regions to ensure water for people and agriculture.