China earmarks disaster relief funds

The Chinese government has allocated 300 million yuan (47 million U.S. dollars) to disaster relief efforts in typhoon-hit Guangdong and Guangxi as well as drought-affected Inner Mongolia and Shanxi.

The money, which was processed jointly by the civil affairs and finance ministries, will cover reconstruction of homes damaged by Typhoon Mujigae and living expenses for those affected, and provide subsidies to help people cope with the drought in north China.

Mujigae, the 22nd typhoon of the year, claimed at least 19 lives in south China's Guangdong province while forcing at least 135,100 people in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to evacuate after it landed in Guangdong on Oct. 4.

North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Shanxi Province have suffered from serious drought since June, affecting about 9.6 million residents. Endi